Guidance on using the Register of Food Additive Authorisations

Introduction

From 1 April 2025, The Food and Feed (Regulated Products) (Amendment, Revocation, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 (reform SI) means that authorisations now come into effect following ministerial decision and are published in the register, rather than statutory instrument. The register is the primary source of information on the regulated products authorised for market in Great Britain. This electronic register is the official list referred to in assimilated EU Regulation No. 1333/2008 and No. 1331/2008. It sets out the list of food additives permitted for use in Great Britain (GB) and conditions of use for food additives.

The conditions of use can be found by accessing the links to the previous versions of assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008 for conditions of use in food categories (Annex II) and conditions of use in food additives, enzymes, flavourings and nutrients (Annex III). The specifications can be found in assimilated EU Regulation 231/2012 and is the pre-reform version. Annex II and III in 1333/2008 and the specification legislation (231/2012) have been revoked in by the reform SI, but links are provided in the register for details of the terms of authorisation, which are preserved.

It is important to note that all the relevant footnote/notes in Annex II and Annex III of 1333/2008 and any in the specifications (231/2012) should be checked as these form part of the authorisations.

Further information and guidance on food additives authorisations can be found here.

Understanding the register fields

Summary page

The summary page lists all the food additives and includes:

1. Food additive name

2. E Number

3. Status

4. Applies in (nation)

5. Last updated (date)

Product page

Each food additive entry on the register includes the following sections

Product details

1. E No.

2. Food additive

3. Specifications – some food additives are allowed in different forms depending on their method of production. Where relevant specifications have been established these are represented by (i), (ii) after the E number. For example E 450 covers diphosphates and E450(i) is disodium diphosphate and E 450 (vi) is dicalcium diphosphate.

4. Groups – certain additives are part of a Groups. For example Groups II and III cover certain colours. All the foods additives under a group will be listed.

Status

1. Status – For example authorised or revoked

2. Applies in - this sets out if the food additive is authorised in England, Wales and Scotland or only certain countries

3. Status notes

Terms of authorisation

1. Conditions of use in food categories – this links to Annex II of assimilated Regulation No. 1333/2008 which shows the conditions of use for food additives based on food categories.

2. Conditions of use in food additives, food enzymes, food flavourings and nutrients – this links to Annex III of assimilated Regulation No. 1333/2008 which shows which food additives, including carriers are approved for use in food additives, food flavourings, nutrients and their conditions of use.

Updates

1. The date of the most recent update made by ministers.

2. A summary of the most recent update. This register became the official public list of authorised food additives on 1 April 2025, so this date will appear unless an authorisation has been updated more recently.

Restrictions on the sale of food additives

There are restrictions on the sale of some food additives directly to consumers or additional requirements for the sale of certain food additives.

The colours E 123, E 127, E 160b(i), E 160b(ii), E 161g, E 173 and E 180 and mixtures of these may not be sold directly to the consumer. Therefore, bottles of food colours sold to consumers must not contain any of these food additives.

Food additives belonging to E 407, E 407a and E 440 can be standardised with sugars, but this must be stated in addition to the number and designation.

When labelled ‘for food use’, nitrite may be sold only in a mixture with salt or a salt substitute.

Period of application

The period of application for some food additives have expired but they have not been removed from the domestic list e.g. the authorisations for calcium aluminium silicate (E 556) and aluminium silicate (Kaolin) (E 559) ended on 31 January 2014.

Notes

There are specific notes that should be taken into consideration when determining which food additives can be present in food and any use levels.

The following notes are part of authorisations:

• The term caramel relates to products of a more or less intense brown colour which are intended for colouring. It does not correspond to the sugary aromatic product obtained from heating sugars and which is used for flavouring food (e.g. confectionery, pastry, alcoholic drinks).

• Canthaxanthin is not authorised in the food categories. The substance is in listed in the Register because it is used in medicinal products in accordance with Directive 2009/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

• Benzoic acid may be present in certain fermented products resulting from the fermentation process following good manufacturing practice.

• E 450 (ix) is not included in Group E 338–341, E 343 and E 450 — 452: Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates

Group I notes

1. May not be used in jelly mini-cups.

2. May not be used to produce dehydrated foods intended to rehydrate on ingestion.

3. May not be used in jelly confectionery

4. Period of application: From 6 February 2013.

Carry-over principle

The carry-over principle is set out in Article 18 of assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008. This sets out when food additives can be used in foods which are not permitted by the relevant authorisation.

The legislation also states for which types of foods the carry-over rules do not apply. Please refer to the Annex Ia ‘Carry-over principle: Article 18(1)(a) – exceptions’ of assimilated Regulation 1333/2008 for the tables of foods that may not contain food additives using the carry over principles.

Use levels

The maximum levels of food additives for use in foods applies to the food as marketed, unless otherwise stated. For example, for the level of sulphites (E 220-228) permitted in barley water is the level in the product as sold not as diluted with water for consumption.

For dried and/or concentrated foods which need to be reconstituted the maximum levels apply to the food as reconstituted according to the instructions on the label taking into account the minimum dilution factor. Unless otherwise stated in the restrictions/exceptions.

The maximum levels for colours when used in foods shall apply to the quantities of colouring principle contained in the colouring preparation unless otherwise stated.

Quantum satis means that no maximum numerical level is specified and substances shall be used in accordance with good manufacturing practice, at a level not higher than is necessary to achieve the intended purpose and provided the consumer is not misled.

Food categories

Authorisations for food additives utilise the following food categorisation system.