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The Food Standards Agency has published new draft regulations in England that will implement two European directives. The directives set criteria for the purity of four new food additives and one sweetener recently permitted for use in the European Union.

The new additives are:

• E392 extracts of rosemary
• E427 cassia gum
• E961 neotame
• E1203 polyvinyl alcohol
• E1521 polyethylene glycol

The aim of the purity criteria legislation is to make sure that each additive meets specified compositional criteria for its manufacture and production.

Minor amendments have also been made to the existing specifications to bring them in line with international safety standards and to take account of new technological developments.

The new regulations, which will come into force in England on 31 March 2011, implement these two European directives:

• Directive 2010/67/EU, which amends Directive 2008/84/EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners
• Directive 2010/37/EU, which amends Directive 2008/60/EC laying down specific purity criteria on sweeteners

It is not thought that these new rules are will impose any additional costs to manufacturers.

If you require any further information or have any comments, please contact the Food Additives Team by emailing foodadditives@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk or calling: 020 7276 8570 by Friday 11 February 2011.

Similar regulations are being made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.