Brussels, 12/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - Due to the lack of sufficient data to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment, five flavouring substances will soon be prohibited from being used in foodstuffs in the European Union.
On Monday 11 May, the Council of the EU decided without debate, not to oppose the adoption of a regulation by the Commission to withdraw certain flavourings and food ingredients from the list of flavourings whose use is allowed in foodstuffs. This list will be included in Annex 1 of the 1334/2008/EC Council Regulation on flavourings and certain food ingredients containing flavouring properties for use in foodstuffs.
The five substances affected are: methylnaphthalene [FL No.01.014], furfuryl methyl ether [FL No.13.052], difurfuryl sulphide [FL No.13.056], difurfuryl ether [FL No13.061] and ethyl furfuryl ether [FL No.13.123]. The additional scientific data required for each of these before 31 December 2013, was not provided to the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).
If the European Parliament does not lodge any objections, the European Commission will be able to adopt this regulation that is currently subject to regulatory procedure with scrutiny. (Aminata Niang)