CCFA Ups Chewables Steviol Limits

BRUSSELSThe Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) agreed increase the level of acceptable steviol equivalents in chewable supplements, from 1820mg/kg to 2500mg/kg, at its meeting last month in China. Additionally, CCFA did not enact the proposal to delete magnesium salts of fatty acidswhich includes magnesium stearate, an essential additive for the production of supplement and confectionary tabletsfrom the International Numbering System (INS). Instead, the additive was retained and assigned the INS number 470(iii). Both of these actions were supported by scientific and technological justifications submitted by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA).

However, the European Union delegation and other European countries showed reservations on almost all of the proposed maximum levels for steviol glycosides (INS 960) besides for chewables, and the magnesium stearate additive will still have to be evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) before it can be added to the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA).

We are pleased to be able to provide scientific and technical research that contributes to Codexs work to improve the General Standard for Food Additives," said David Pineda Ereño, IADSAs regulatory affairs director. Our aim is to ensure the adopted levels are both safe for consumers and consistent with those widely used by the global food supplement industry."

Ereño added, Deleting key additives from the General Standard for Food Additives list and adopting very low levels could create completely unnecessary barriers to trade. Through our member associations, we will continue to provide the necessary scientific and technical information to support Codexs work."

One color no longer permitted in the GSFA is erythrosine (INS 127), following concerns from European Union and most Asian countries.

Additionally, the meeting saw extensive discussions on the future of food additives containing aluminium. The JECFA had been requested to evaluate the safety of aluminium containing compounds, but its report was not available in time for the March session of the CCFA and therefore no aluminium substances have yet been removed from the GSFA.

IADSA, created in 1998, represents more than 50 national trade associations and more than 20,000 companies.