The latest in a series of changes to existing technical legislation covering the purity criteria for food additives, Directives amended are 96/77/EC, 95/45/EC and95/31/EC.
The Food Standards Agency Scotland reports that for Directive 96/77/EC the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health changed specifications to take into account the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) opinion that isobutyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol can be used as extraction solvents for the extraction of Beta-carotene from Blakeslea trispora
.On Directive 95/31/EC specifications have been added for two recently permitted sweeteners, sucralose (E955) and salt of aspartame-acesulfame (E962).
With regards to Directive 96/77/EC specifications have been amended to take account of the SCF opinion on carrageenan, expressed on 5 March 2003.
The specifications for E407 - carrageenan- and E407a, processed Eucheuma seaweed, now limit the level of low molecular weight carrageenan to not more than 5 per cent. In addition, the minimum Ash content for E407a has increased to 15 per cent.
Specifications have been added for three recently permitted additives, hydrogenated poly-1-decene (E907), glyceryl diacetate (E1517) and Benzyl alcohol (E1519).
The FSA reminded stakeholders that Member States have until 1 April 2005 to implement the provisions of the new Directives into national legislation.