Key Supplement Additives Recommended for Inclusion in Codex Standard

BRUSSELSThe Codex Committee for Food Additives (CCFA) agreed to recommend key additives used in supplements at levels supported by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) with no restrictions on product categories for inclusion into the Codex General Standard for Food Additives, it was reported by IADSA.

The CCFA agreed to adopt the use of aspartame-acesulfame salt (INS 962) at a maximum level of 2,000 mg/kg, sorbates (INS 200-203) at a maximum level of 2,000 mg/kg, and sucroglycerides (INS 474) at a maximum level of 2,500 mg/kg. The additives were approved with no restrictions on product form categories, allowing supplement manufacturers to use them in either solid or liquid form. These additives will now be presented at the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will consider them for final adoption into the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) in July.

We are very pleased with this outcome," said David Pineda, IADSAs director of regulatory affairs. The alternative of deleting these additives from the General Standard for Food Additives list or adopting very low levels would have created both considerable confusion in many countries and significant barriers to trade. We are continually working to ensure that adopted levels are both safe for consumers and consistent with those widely used by the global food supplement industry. The establishment of a single authoritative reference point for food additives used in trade has long been a goal for Codex, and we are pleased to help contribute to its work."

Peter Zambetti, chairman of IADSA and director of global business management at Capsugel, will be speaking about international regulations, including Codex issues, in the session Global/International Regulatory Update on May 10 at SupplySide MarketPlace.