EU food additives legislation
Regulation EC 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 sets the rules on food additives: definitions, conditions of use, labelling and procedures.
Food additives must comply with specifications which should include information to adequately identify the food additive, including origin, and to describe the acceptable criteria of purity.
Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March lays down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of 16 December 2008 establishes the common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.
For more information on “Food additives”, go to the specific webpage of DG SANTE
Belgian legislation regarding food additives
The royal decree of 20 March 2013 on food additive specifications, is implementing regulation 231/2012 and declaring non-compliant food additives harmful, which is a basis to withdraw such products from the market and to take control measures described in the Belgian general food law of 24 January 1977.
The royal decree of 17 September 2014 on food additives implements the regulation 1333/2008 in a similar way.