On Feb. 26, 2020, Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced revision to “List of Existing Food Additives” and “Food Additive Standards”. 9 additives were deleted from “List of Existing Food Additives” including itaconic acid, fish scale foil, kooroo colour, spices extract, bone carbon black, shea nut colour, ferritin, hego-ginkgo leaf extract and levan.
It is noteworthy that the production standard of spices extract formulated based on “Food Additive Standard” was removed as well.
The amendments became effective upon its publication on Feb. 26. In addition, the additives deleted from “List of Existing Food Additives” cannot be sold, manufactured, imported or used in processing.