Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 230/2/12

21 August 2006

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 319/2006

European Union (EU)* : Control on Food Additives and Sweeteners

European Council recently adopted Directive 2006/52/EC (the Directive) amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners and Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs. A copy (pdf format) of the Directive is attached to this circular for reference.

DETAILS

2. In line with the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority, the Directive aims to authorise new substances and reassess certain existing provisions to take account of technical developments in the sector and new scientific knowledge regarding effects on consumer health. Major provisions include:

1. setting the levels of nitrites and nitrates in foodstuffs;
   
   
2. prohibiting the use of additives E216 (propyl p-hydroxybenzoate) and E217 (sodium propyl p-hydroxybenzoate);
   
   
3. prohibiting the use of certain gel-forming food additives in jelly mini-cups; and
   
   
4. permitting or extending the use of certain additives in specific foodstuffs. 
   

3. The permission to trade in and the use of products complying with this Directive and the prohibition of trade in and use of products which do not comply with this Directive will be effective by 15 February 2008 and 15 August 2008 respectively.

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5500.

Yours faithfully,

(K H NG)

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.

Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.