Food additives directive undergoes changes

The European Commission has indicated its intention to amend the food additives framework directive 89/107/EEC more substantially than originally planned, with provisions for the labelling of GM additives sold as such being included, writes Reading Scientific Services (RSSL).

According to the RSSL​ , a letter from Glynis Griffiths at the Food Additives Unit of the UK Food Standards Agency provides an update on the progress of changes which the European Commission proposes to make to EU rules on food additives.

The wording of amendments to permanently ban konjac (E 425) under Directive 95/2/EC was changed because Member States considered that the words "mouth-sized jelly confectionery" would prove ambiguous and difficult to enforce. Agreement on new wording was reached which would be referred to the European Parliament.

It was also agreed that a ban on other gelling agents such as carrageenan and locust bean gum was not required unless safety tests currently being carried out in France and the UK proved otherwise. These gels appeared to be more brittle and easily dissolved than konjac and had not given rise to any reported choking incidents.

On miscellaneous additives, (Directive 95/2/EC) the proposed amendments only covered requests from industry for additions, deletions and modifications that met the criteria under Annex II of Directive 89/107/EEC. New uses for additives that have the potential to exceed acceptable daily intakes (ADI) and obsolete additives will be the subject of a further round of consultations, writes the RSSL.

The rules on intakes do not apply to the new entries for additives in flavourings, since these existing uses of additives, that are being harmonised for the first time, are unlikely to increase the overall intake. This is because they are lower than currently used by industry with fewer additives in flavourings permitted. Concerns were expressed over proposals to delete entries permitting malic acid in various fruit juices and dimethyl polysiloxane (E 900) in pineapple juice. The omission of apple compote from the proposed new entry permitting pectin and calcium chloride in fruit compote was also questioned.

The wording of the definition of "binding agents", a new category additive which will include binding proteins like fibrimex and transglutaminase, is also to be reviewed.