On Oct. 21, 2019, Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced revision to the list of 18 types of esters as food additives. The amended positive list entered effect the day after its publication (Oct. 22, 2019). Changes involve 15 food additives:
| SEQ. | Japanese name | English name | Changed item | Before revision | After revision |
| 408 | シトロネリル デカノエート | Citronellyl Decanoate | CAS no. | (no record) | 72934-06-6 |
| 589 | ジヒドロペリリル アルコール | Dihydroperyl alcohol | CAS no. | (no record) | 18479-64-6 |
| 798 | エチル 5-ヒドロキシデカノエート | Ethyl 5-hydroxydecanoate | CAS no. | 6071-25-6 75587-06-3 | (delete) 75587-06-3 |
| 1528 | l-メンチル ラクテート | Menthyl lactate | CAS no. | 59259-38-0 | 17162-29-7 |
| 1533 | メンチル バレレート | Menthyl Valerate | CAS no. | (no record) | 64129-94-8 |
| 1582 | S-メチル 2-（プロピオニルオキシ）プ ロパンチオエート | (1-methylsulfanyl-1-oxopropan-2-yl) propanoate | CAS no. | (no record) | 827024-53-3 |
| 1765 | 3-メチル-3-ブテニル ブチレート | 3-methylbut-3-enyl butanoate | CAS no. | (no record) | 54702-13-5 |
| 1831 | オイゲニル メチル エーテル | Eugenyl methyl ether | (delete the entry) | / | / |
| 1901 | モノ-メンチル サクシネート | Mono-menthyl succinate | type | ester | aliphatic acid |
| Type no. | 4 | 6 | |||
| 2019 | オクタノイック アシド | Octanoic acid | (delete the entry) | / | / |
| 2201 | プロパナール ジイソブチル アセタール | Propanal diisobutyl acetal | CAS no. | (no record) | 13002-11-4 |
| 2250 | プロピレングリコール モノ アンド ジ ラクテート | Propylene glycol mono and di lactate | Japanese name | プロピレングリコール モノ アン ド ジラクテート | プロピレングリコール モノ and ジラクテート |
| 2295 | スピロ[2,4-ジチア-1-メチル-8-オキサビシクロ[3.3.0]オクタン-3,3'-(1'-オ キサ-2'-メチル)シクロペンタン] アン ド スピロ[ジチア-6-メチル-7-オキサ-ビシクロ[3.3.0]オクタン-3,3'-(1'-オ キサ-2'-メチル)シクロペンタン] | Spiro [2,4-dithia-1-methyl-8-oxabicyclo [3.3.0] octane-3,3 '-(1'-oxa-2'-methyl) cyclopentane] and spiro [dithia-6 -Methyl-7-oxa-bicyclo [3.3.0] octane-3,3 '-(1'-oxa-2'-methyl) cyclopentane] | Japanese name | スピロ[2,4-ジチア-1-メチル-8-オ キサ-ビシクロ[3.3.0]オクタン3,3'-(1'-オキサ-2'-メチル)シク ロペンタン] アンド スピロ[ジチ ア-6-メチル-7-オキサ-ビシクロ[3.3.0]オクタン-3,3'-(1'-オキサ -2'-メチル)シクロペンタン] | スピロ[2,4-ジチア-1-メチル-8-オ キサ-ビシクロ[3.3.0]オクタン3,3'-(1'-オキサ-2'-メチル)シク ロペンタン] and スピロ[ジチア6-メチル-7-オキサ-ビシクロ[3.3.0]オクタン-3,3'-(1'-オキサ -2'-メチル)シクロペンタン] |
| 2415 | トリエチル シトレート | Triethyl citrate | (delete the entry) | / | / |
| 2676 | モノメンチル グルタレート | Monomethyl glutarate | type | ester | aliphatic acid |
| Type no. | 4 | 6 |
Under current Japan’s positive list system, food additives can be used only when they are in one of the following lists:
List of designated food additives
It includes additives that are approved by MHLW after safety evaluation such as sorbic acid and xylitol. 18 types of esters are separated from the list because they have shown to be carcinogenic in test animals. The list of 18 types of esters is the object of revision.
1. List of existing food additives
It includes additives that have been widely used when establishing food additive regulations.
2. List of natural flavorings
It includes additives derived from natural animals or plants such as vanilla flavoring.
3. List of general additives of food and beverage
It includes strawberry juice, agar and the likes that are widely used in food and beverages.
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