Food Additives
Codex Committee on Food Additives (Host Government - China)
The Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) establishes and endorses permitted maximum levels for individual food additives. The CCFA prepares priority lists of food additives for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives as well as assigning functional classes to individual food additives.
The committee also recommends specifications of identity and purity for food additives for adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and considers methods of analysis for the determination of additives in food.
Establishment of the Committee
The 29th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted the terms of reference proposed for the CCFA, thereby deciding to replace the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) with the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) and the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF). The Commission agreed that each Committee should review its terms of reference at its first session.
Existing Codex Standards
Standards relating to food additives* that have been endorsed and adopted into the international food code:
- General Standard for the Labelling of Food Additives when sold as such
- General Standard for Food Additives
- General Principles for the Use of Food Additives in Food
- List of Codex Advisory Specifications for Food Additives
- Guidelines for Simple Evaluation of Food Additive Intake
- Class Names and the International Numbering System for Food Additives
*This is an indicative list only. For a full list of standards approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, please consult its Official List of Standards.
Outcomes from the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The 32nd Commission adopted at Step 5/8 the:
- Proposed Draft Amendments to the International Numbering System for Food Additives
- Proposed Draft Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives arising from the 69th JECFA meeting
- Draft and Proposed Draft Food Additive Provisions of the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), except for provisions for erythrosine which will be returned to CCFA for further discussion at its next session in the context of a refined exposure assessment by JECFA.
The 32nd Commission also adopted the:
- Amendment to the Annex to Table 3 of the GSFA
- Amendment to the Name and Descriptors of Food Categories 01.2.1.1, 15.1 and 15.2 of the GSFA
The Commission approved to the discontinuation of work on the draft and proposed draft Food Additives Provisions of the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA).
Download the agenda papers from this meeting
Last Meeting
The Committee met for its 41st Session in Beijing, China, on 16-20 March 2009.
Matters for adoption/consideration by the 32nd session of the Codex Alimetarius Commission:
Draft and proposed draft Standards and Related Texts for adoption at Steps 8 and 5/8
The Committee forwarded the:
- draft and proposed draft food additive provisions of the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), for adoption at Step 8 and 5/8, respectively
- proposed draft amendments to the International Numbering System for Food Additives, for adoption at Step 5/8
- proposed draft Specifications for the Industry and Purity of Food Additives, for adoption at Step 5/8.
Codex standard and related texts for revocation
The Committee agreed to request the 32nd Session of the Commission to revoke:
- food additive provisions of the GSFA.
Proposals for the elaboration of new standards and related texts
The Committee agreed to submit to the 32nd session of the Commission, through the 62nd session of the Executive Committee, for approval:
- Priority List of Food Additives, proposed for evaluation by JECFA.
Other Matters for adoption by the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Committee forwarded:
- Amendment to the Annex to table 3 (ALINORM 09/32/12) of the GSFA to include the following footnote: “Acidity regulations, packaging gases, stabilizers and thickens listed in Table 3 are acceptable for use in fermented milks, heat treated after fermentation, as defined in the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks (CODEX STAN 243-2004) that correspond to food category 01.2.1.2 “Fermented milks (plain), heat treated after fermentation”
- Amendments to the names and descriptions of the GSFA food categories 01.2.1.1 “Fermented milks (plain), not heat-treated after fermentation”, 15.1 “Snacks-potato, ceral, flour or starch based (from roots and tubers, pulses and legumes)” and 15.2 “Processed nuts, including coated nuts and nut mixtures (with e.g. dried fruit)”.
Other matters for information by the 32nd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Committee agreed:
- to discontinue work on a number of draft and proposed draft food additive provisions of the GSFA
- to return the proposed draft Guidelines and Principles for Substances Used as Processing Aids (NO4-2008) to Step 2
- to include a number of new food additive provisions at step 3 and 4 in the GSFA.
Endorsement and/or revision of maximum level for food additivies and processing aids in Codex standards
The Committee:
- endorsed with some editorial amendments the majority of food additive provisions forwarded by the Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables, on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses, on Fats and Oils and by the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia
- agreed to inform commodity committees of the practice not to endorse provisions at a level of GMP for food additives with a numerical ADI.
Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV)
Draft Standards for Jams, Jellies and Marmalades
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision for grape skin extract (INS 163(ii)) that was endorsed at a maximum level of 500 mg/kg: and for the Section on Flavourings that was endorsed with inclusion of a reference to the Guidelines for the Use of Flavourings (CAC/GL 66-2008)
- did not agree to assign a new “preservative” technological purpose to ascorbic acid (INS 300), due to the fact that ascorbic acid did not prevent the growth of microorganisms but acts mainly as a colour preserving/retention agent in jams, jellies and marmalade.
Draft Standard for Certain Canned Vegetables
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision for caramel III (INS 150c), proposed at GMP, since it has a numerical ADI; and the maximum level of 5000 mg/kg.
Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)
Advisory List of Nutrient Compounds for Use in Foods for Special Dietary Use by Infants and Young Children (CAC/GL 10-1979) - endorsed the proposed level of 10 mg/kg for gum arabic (INS 414) for use as a carrier.
FAO/WHO Coordination Committee for Asia (CCASIA)
Proposed Draft Regional Standard for Fermented Soybean Paste
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision for monopotassium tartrate (INS 336(i)), proposed at GMP, since it has a numerical ADI. The committee agreed to request the CCASIA to provide a numerical maximum level for this substance.
Proposed Draft Regional Standard for Edible Sago Flour
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision of 2500 mg/kg (treatment level) for chlorine dioxide (INS 926).
Committee on Fats and Oils
The Committee:
- endorsed all revised provisions in fats and oils standards, as proposed.
Matters Referred to Codex Committees and Task Forces
The committee agreed that Commodity Committees should be fully informed of amendments to section of food additives of the Format for Codex Commodity Standards and relations between Commodity Committees and General Subject Committees, which were adopted by the 31st Session of the Commission, and thus facilitating the future integration of food additive provisions in commodity standards into the GSFA.
Working Groups
The Committee agreed to establish:
Physical Working Group
GSFA: to facilitate consideration of food additive provisions of the GSFA (Chair: United States of America).
Electronic Working Groups
Guidelines and Principles on Substances used as Processing Aids: to prepare revised proposed draft Guidelines and Principles (Host: Indonesia).
INS: to consider the replies to the CL requesting proposals for changes/addition to the INS list and prepare a proposal for circulation for comments at Step 3; to prepare a discussion paper containing principles regarding the need for justification for proposals of changes to the INS; information on use as food additives of salts of fatty acids (INS 470) and aluminium sulfate (INS 520); and to address the inconsistency of the name of riboflavin, synthetic (INS 101(i)) (Host: Finland).
Inconsistent presentation of food additive provisions in codex commodity standards: to prepare a revised discussion paper (Host: Switzerland).
Matters to be considered by the 42nd CCFA
The Committee:
- agreed that it would reconsider the level for chlorine dioxide for food category 06.2.1 of the GSFA and advise the CCASIA accordingly
- decided to clarify whether sago flour was covered by food category 06.2.1 “Flours” and if the descriptor of the food category should be revised at its next session.
Others
The committee:
- agreed to request JECFA to consider including in the relevant specifications as synonyms the names for some food additives; to discuss the appropriate naming of critrates (INS 333(iii)); and to recommend that JECFA carefully consider the names of compounds listed in the INS for use in the specifications and, when they were considered not to be appropriate, to clearly indicate the reasons in order to facilitate follow-up actions by the Committee.
Download the agenda for this meeting
Last Meeting
The Committee met for its 41st Session in Beijing, China, on 16-20 March 2009.
Matters for adoption/consideration by the 32nd session of the Codex Alimetarius Commission:
Draft and proposed draft Standards and Related Texts for adoption at Steps 8 and 5/8
The Committee forwarded the:
- draft and proposed draft food additive provisions of the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), for adoption at Step 8 and 5/8, respectively
- proposed draft amendments to the International Numbering System for Food Additives, for adoption at Step 5/8
- proposed draft Specifications for the Industry and Purity of Food Additives, for adoption at Step 5/8.
Codex standard and related texts for revocation
The Committee agreed to request the 32nd Session of the Commission to revoke:
- food additive provisions of the GSFA.
Proposals for the elaboration of new standards and related texts
The Committee agreed to submit to the 32nd session of the Commission, through the 62nd session of the Executive Committee, for approval:
- Priority List of Food Additives, proposed for evaluation by JECFA.
Other Matters for adoption by the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Committee forwarded:
- Amendment to the Annex to table 3 (ALINORM 09/32/12) of the GSFA to include the following footnote: “Acidity regulations, packaging gases, stabilizers and thickens listed in Table 3 are acceptable for use in fermented milks, heat treated after fermentation, as defined in the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks (CODEX STAN 243-2004) that correspond to food category 01.2.1.2 “Fermented milks (plain), heat treated after fermentation”
- Amendments to the names and descriptions of the GSFA food categories 01.2.1.1 “Fermented milks (plain), not heat-treated after fermentation”, 15.1 “Snacks-potato, ceral, flour or starch based (from roots and tubers, pulses and legumes)” and 15.2 “Processed nuts, including coated nuts and nut mixtures (with e.g. dried fruit)”.
Other matters for information by the 32nd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Committee agreed:
- to discontinue work on a number of draft and proposed draft food additive provisions of the GSFA
- to return the proposed draft Guidelines and Principles for Substances Used as Processing Aids (NO4-2008) to Step 2
- to include a number of new food additive provisions at step 3 and 4 in the GSFA.
Endorsement and/or revision of maximum level for food additivies and processing aids in Codex standards
The Committee:
- endorsed with some editorial amendments the majority of food additive provisions forwarded by the Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables, on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses, on Fats and Oils and by the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia
- agreed to inform commodity committees of the practice not to endorse provisions at a level of GMP for food additives with a numerical ADI.
Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV)
Draft Standards for Jams, Jellies and Marmalades
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision for grape skin extract (INS 163(ii)) that was endorsed at a maximum level of 500 mg/kg: and for the Section on Flavourings that was endorsed with inclusion of a reference to the Guidelines for the Use of Flavourings (CAC/GL 66-2008)
- did not agree to assign a new “preservative” technological purpose to ascorbic acid (INS 300), due to the fact that ascorbic acid did not prevent the growth of microorganisms but acts mainly as a colour preserving/retention agent in jams, jellies and marmalade.
Draft Standard for Certain Canned Vegetables
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision for caramel III (INS 150c), proposed at GMP, since it has a numerical ADI; and the maximum level of 5000 mg/kg.
Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)
Advisory List of Nutrient Compounds for Use in Foods for Special Dietary Use by Infants and Young Children (CAC/GL 10-1979)
- endorsed the proposed level of 10 mg/kg for gum arabic (INS 414) for use as a carrier.
FAO/WHO Coordination Committee for Asia (CCASIA)
Proposed Draft Regional Standard for Fermented Soybean Paste
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision for monopotassium tartrate (INS 336(i)), proposed at GMP, since it has a numerical ADI. The committee agreed to request the CCASIA to provide a numerical maximum level for this substance.
Proposed Draft Regional Standard for Edible Sago Flour
The Committee:
- endorsed the provisions as proposed, except the provision of 2500 mg/kg (treatment level) for chlorine dioxide (INS 926).
Committee on Fats and Oils
The Committee:
- endorsed all revised provisions in fats and oils standards, as proposed.
Matter Referred to Codex Committees and Task Forces
The committee agreed that Commodity Committees should be fully informed of amendments to section of food additives of the Format for Codex Commodity Standards and relations between Commodity Committees and General Subject Committees, which were adopted by the 31st Session of the Commission, and thus facilitating the future integration of food additive provisions in commodity standards into the GSFA.
Other Matters of Interest
Working Groups
The Committee agreed to establish:
Physical Working Group
GSFA: to facilitate consideration of food additive provisions of the GSFA (Chair: United States of America).
Electronic Working Groups
Guidelines and Principles on Substances used as Processing Aids: to prepare revised proposed draft Guidelines and Principles (Host: Indonesia).
INS: to consider the replies to the CL requesting proposals for changes/addition to the INS list and prepare a proposal for circulation for comments at Step 3; to prepare a discussion paper containing principles regarding the need for justification for proposals of changes to the INS; information on use as food additives of salts of fatty acids (INS 470) and aluminium sulfate (INS 520); and to address the inconsistency of the name of riboflavin, synthetic (INS 101(i)) (Host: Finland).
Inconsistent presentation of food additive provisions in codex commodity standards: to prepare a revised discussion paper (Host: Switzerland).
Matters to be considered by the 42nd CCFA
The Committee:
- agreed that it would reconsider the level for chlorine dioxide for food category 06.2.1 of the GSFA and advise the CCASIA accordingly
- decided to clarify whether sago flour was covered by food category 06.2.1 “Flours” and if the descriptor of the food category should be revised at its next session.
Others
The committee:
- agreed to request JECFA to consider including in the relevant specifications as synonyms the names for some food additives; to discuss the appropriate naming of critrates (INS 333(iii)); and to recommend that JECFA carefully consider the names of compounds listed in the INS for use in the specifications and, when they were considered not to be appropriate, to clearly indicate the reasons in order to facilitate follow-up actions by the Committee.
Next Meeting
The 42nd Session of the CCFA has been tentatively scheduled to be held in China, from 15-19 March 2010.