Flavouring substances have recently been subject to significant legislative changes and 2005 will be a very significant year for the flavour industry as a result.
For example, the new smoke flavourings regulation (EC No 2065/2003) will apply from June 16, 2005. This regulation will not only harmonise the definitions of smoke flavouring, it will also provide an authorised list of smoke flavourings permitted for use throughout the European Union.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), meanwhile, has a full program of work covering the assessment of other flavouring substances under the requirements of Regulation 2232/96. This regulation (within the framework directive 88/388 on flavourings for use in foodstuffs) requires the adoption of a positive list of defined chemical flavouring substances.
The list, as compiled so far, constitutes approximately 2,700 substances, each of which has to be assessed for safety by EFSA. The products may be assessed individually or batched if appropriate, and EFSA announced in early November that the assessment of a further batch of products has been completed and is now published on its website (www.efsa.eu.int).
The size and timescale of the task has at times been viewed with scepticism by industry, but the benefit of the approved list will be a truly harmonised European market.
Inevitably, some substances may not pass the safety assessment, and will be removed from the list. For example, methyleugenol, estragole and capsaicin have all received unfavourable EFSA opinions and so will not be included on the positive list.
Also, until the list is complete, no further flavouring substances can be submitted for authorisation, which essentially creates a barrier to new product development -- another reason to hope that the assessment will be completed by the deadline of July 2005.
The Food Standards Agency has a consultation out on the new regulation on smoke flavourings until December 21, so take this opportunity to make your comments heard.
Jean Feord Business Manager
for Legislation,
Leatherhead Food International.