Regulation 2008/1333 - Food additives

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1.

Current status

This regulation has been published on December 31, 2008 and entered into force on January 20, 2009.

2.

Key information

official title

Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives
 
Legal instrument Regulation
Number legal act Regulation 2008/1333
Original proposal COM(2006)428 EN
CELEX number i 32008R1333

3.

Key dates

Document 16-12-2008
Publication in Official Journal 31-12-2008; OJ L 354, 31.12.2008,Special edition in Croatian: Chapter 13 Volume 034
Effect 20-01-2009; Entry into force Date pub. + 20 See Art 35
20-01-2009; Partial application See Art 35
20-01-2010; Application See Art 35
20-07-2010; Partial application See Art 35
01-01-2011; Partial application See Art 35
20-01-2011; Partial application See Art 35
End of validity 31-12-9999

4.

Legislative text

31.12.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 354/16

 

REGULATION (EC) No 1333/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 16 December 2008

on food additives

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (2),

Whereas:

 

(1)

The free movement of safe and wholesome food is an essential aspect of the internal market and contributes significantly to the health and well-being of citizens, and to their social and economic interests.

 

(2)

A high level of protection of human life and health should be assured in the pursuit of Community policies.

 

(3)

This Regulation replaces previous Directives and Decisions concerning food additives permitted for use in foods with a view to ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market whilst ensuring a high level of protection of human health and a high level of consumer protection, including the protection of consumer interests, via comprehensive and streamlined procedures.

 

(4)

This Regulation harmonises the use of food additives in foods in the Community. This includes the use of food additives in foods covered by Council Directive 89/398/EEC of 3 May 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses (3) and the use of certain food colours for the health marking of meat and the decoration and stamping of eggs. It also harmonises the use of food additives in food additives and food enzymes thus ensuring their safety and quality and facilitating their storage and use. This has not previously been regulated at Community level.

 

(5)

Food additives are substances that are not normally consumed as food itself but are added to food intentionally for a technological purpose described in this Regulation, such as the preservation of food. All food additives should be covered by this Regulation, and therefore in the light of scientific progress and technological development the list of functional classes should be updated. However, substances should not be considered as food additives when they are used for the purpose of imparting flavour and/or taste or for nutritional purposes, such as salt replacers, vitamins and minerals. Moreover, substances considered as foods which may be used for a technological function, such as sodium chloride or saffron for colouring and food enzymes should also not fall within the scope of this Regulation. However, preparations obtained from foods and other natural source material that are intended to have a technological effect in the final food and which are obtained by selective extraction of constituents (e.g. pigments) relative to the nutritive or aromatic constituents, should be considered additives within the meaning of this Regulation. Finally, food enzymes are covered by Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food enzymes (4), which excludes the application of this Regulation.

 

(6)

Substances not consumed as food itself but used intentionally in the processing of foods, which only remain as residues in the final food and do not have a technological effect in the final product (processing aids), should not be covered by this Regulation.

 

(7)

Food additives should be approved and used only if they fulfil the criteria laid down in this Regulation. Food additives must be safe when used, there must be a technological need for their use, and their use must not...


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This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

5.

Original proposal

 

6.

Sources and disclaimer

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