17/01/2022 (Agence Europe) – Since January, the ban on titanium dioxide as a food additive (white colouring, so-called E171) has been in force in the EU, in accordance with a European Commission decision of 2021. After the green light from the Member States’ experts (see EUROPE 12808/34), neither the Parliament nor the Council of the EU objected. A grace period (transitional period) of 6 months is foreseen to allow time for agri-food businesses to adapt. The Commission’s decision is based on the revised opinion published on 6 May 2021 by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe for use as a food additive. EFSA says it could not exclude a risk of genotoxicity (see EUROPE 12715/18). The ban does not apply to medicines containing titanium dioxide. (AN)