Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/4

15 October 2004

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 251/2004

European Union (EU)* : Directive on Labelling of Foodstuffs Containing Glycyrrhizinic Acid and its Ammonium Salt

The European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Directive to make it compulsory to provide specific information on the labelling of foodstuffs containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt. The objective is to provide consumers with clear information on the presence of the substances in question. EU Member States shall prohibit trade in products which do not comply with the labelling requirements with effect from 20 May 2006, except for those products labelled before this effective date while stocks last. More details are set out in Commission Directive 2004/77/EC (the Directive), a copy of which is attached to this circular for reference.

DETAILS

2. Glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt are flavouring substances used in foodstuffs. Exposure to them occurs mostly via consumption of liquorice confectionery, including chewing gum, herbal teas and other beverages. Excessive consumption of them may give rise to hypertension. In order to ensure a high level of consumer protection, the Commission adopted the Directive to require compulsory indication of the presence of the substances concerned in confectionery and beverages. A warning message for people suffering from hypertension should be added on the labels if the amount of the substances present exceeds the specified limit. The indication should be shown after the list of ingredients or if in the absence of such a list, nearby the name under which the product is sold. Full details of the terms/messages to be used for different types of foodstuffs are shown in the Annex (pdf format) of the Directive.

ENQUIRIES

3. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.