Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 230/2/12

24 August 2007

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 310/2007

European Union (EU)* : Suspension of the Use of E 128 Red 2G as Food Colour

The European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Regulation to suspend the use of E 128 Red 2G as food colour. Details are set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 884/2007 (the Regulation). The Regulation can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_195/l_19520070727en00080009.pdf.

DETAILS

2. E 128 Red 2G was originally permitted for use as food colour in breakfast sausages and burger meat as specified in Directive 94/36/EC on colours for use in foodstuff. However, recent scientific research indicated that E 128 Red 2G might constitute a serious risk to human health. In this regard, the European Commission decided to immediately suspend the placing on the market and import of food containing the colour E 128 Red 2G. Breakfast sausages and burger meat containing E 128 Red 2G which have been placed on the market before the entry into force of the Regulation could be marketed until their "use by" date or their date of minimum durability.

ENQUIRIES

3. For enquiries concerning the contents 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, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.