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Regulation (EU) No 231/2012

Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012

Category

General Legislation

Document type

Neutral

Country / organization

European Parliament and the Council of the European Union

Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 establishes detailed specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Its purpose is to ensure that all additives used in the EU meet strict safety, purity, and quality standards. The Regulation consolidates and updates previous rules on food colours, sweeteners, and other additives, repealing older directives and harmonizing criteria across the Union.

The law requires that additives comply with specifications covering their origin, purity, methods of analysis, and limits for contaminants such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic, and other impurities. Many maximum levels for toxic elements are lowered, reflecting advances in manufacturing technology and scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Codex Alimentarius. At the same time, adjustments are made where stricter limits are technically unfeasible without affecting supply.

The Regulation introduces updated criteria for certain additives, corrects technical descriptions, and clarifies manufacturing practices. It also includes new or modified provisions for substances such as steviol glycosides, erythritol, guar gum, and phosphates, ensuring safety particularly in sensitive products like infant food.

Overall, the Regulation provides a uniform legal framework that protects consumers by ensuring additives used in food across the EU are safe, consistent, and traceable, while also offering industry clarity on compliance standards.

The full version of the document can be consulted in the official PDF file or through the original source link bellow.

Food additives mentioned in the document

E100 – CurcuminsE101(i) – Riboflavin, syntheticE101(ii) – Riboflavin 5'-phosphate sodiumE102 – TartrazineE104 – Quinoline yellowE110 – Sunset Yellow FCFE120 – CarminesE122 – Azorubine, CarmoisineE123 – AmaranthE124 – Ponceau 4R, Cochineal red AE127 – ErythrosineE129 – Allura Red ACE131 – Patent Blue VE132 – Indigotine (Indigo carmine)E133 – Brilliant Blue FCFE140(i) – ChlorophyllsE140(ii) – ChlorophyllinsE141(i) – Chlorophylls, copper complexesE141(ii) – Chlorophyllins, copper complexes, potassium and sodium saltsE142 – Green SE150a – Caramel I – plain caramelE150b – Caramel II - sulfite caramelE150c – Caramel III - ammonia caramelE150d – Caramel IV - sulfite ammonia caramelE153 – Vegetable carbonE155 – Brown HTE160a(i) – Carotenes, beta-, syntheticE160a(ii) – Carotenes, beta-, vegetableE160a(iii) – Carotenes, beta-, Blakeslea trisporaE160a(iv) – β-carotene- rich extract from Dunaliella salinaE160b – Annatto extractsE160b(i) – Annatto extracts, bixin-basedE160b(ii) – Annatto extracts, norbixin-basedE160b(iii) – Oil extracted annattoE160c – Paprika oleoresin and Paprika extractE160c(i) – Paprika oleoresinE160c(ii) – Paprika extractE160d – LycopenesE160d(i) – Lycopene, syntheticE160d(ii) – Lycopene, tomatoE160d(iii) – Lycopene , Blakeslea trisporaE160e – Carotenal, beta-apo-8’-E161b – LuteinsE161g – CanthaxanthinE162 – Beet redE163 – AnthocyaninsE170 – Calcium carbonatesE170(i) – Calcium carbonateE170(ii) – Calcium hydrogen carbonateE171 – Titanium dioxideE172 – Iron oxidesE172(i) – Iron oxide, blackE172(ii) – Iron oxide, redE172(iii) – Iron oxide, yellowE173 – Aluminium powderE174 – SilverE175 – Gold, metallicE180 – Lithol rubine BKE200 – Sorbic acidE202 – Potassium sorbateE203 – Calcium sorbateE210 – Benzoic acidE211 – Sodium benzoateE212 – Potassium benzoateE213 – Calcium benzoateE214 – Ethyl para-hydroxybenzoateE215 – Sodium ethyl para-hydroxybenzoateE218 – Methyl para-hydroxybenzoateE219 – Sodium methyl para-hydroxybenzoateE220 – Sulfur dioxideE221 – Sodium sulfiteE222 – Sodium hydrogen sulfiteE223 – Sodium metabisulfiteE224 – Potassium metabisulfiteE226 – Calcium sulfiteE227 – Calcium hydrogen sulfiteE228 – Potassium bisulfiteE234 – NisinE235 – Natamycin (Pimaricin)E239 – Hexamethylene tetramineE242 – Dimethyl dicarbonateE249 – Potassium nitriteE250 – Sodium nitriteE251 – Sodium nitrateE252 – Potassium nitrateE260 – Acetic acid, glacialE261 – Potassium acetatesE262 – Sodium acetatesE262(i) – Sodium acetateE262(ii) – Sodium diacetateE263 – Calcium acetateE270 – Lactic acid, L-, D- and DL-E280 – Propionic acidE281 – Sodium propionateE282 – Calcium propionateE283 – Potassium propionateE284 – Boric acidE285 – Sodium tetraborate; boraxE290 – Carbon dioxideE296 – Malic acid, DL-E297 – Fumaric acidE300 – Ascorbic acid, L-E301 – Sodium ascorbateE320 – Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)E321 – Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)E339 – Sodium phosphatesE339(i) – Sodium dihydrogen phosphateE339(ii) – Disodium hydrogen phosphateE339(iii) – Trisodium phosphateE386 – Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetateE406 – AgarE417 – Tara gumE425 – Konjac flourE425(i) – Konjac gumE425(ii) – Konjac glucomannanE433 – Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleateE951 – AspartameE952 – CyclamatesE952(i) – Cyclamic acidE952(ii) – Sodium cyclamateE952(iii) – Calcium cyclamateE955 – Sucralose (Trichlorogalactosucrose)

Full document in PDF

Link to the source

Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012 (EUR-Lex)