South Korea Solicits Opinions on Food Additive Code

As revealed by the No. 2019-137 Notice of MFDS, South Korea is now soliciting opinions on the partially revised Food Additive Code. Any comments shall be sent back prior to May 18, 2019. Here are the main revisions:

Newly added:

• The production standard of containers for dinitrogen monoxide: only high-pressure metal containers whose volume surpass 2.5 liters can be filled with dinitrogen monoxide

• The scope and general usage standard of nutritional supplements for fermentation

Revised:

• The component spec of six food additives

1. The test method of pyroglutamic acid in the purity test of L-Glutamic Acid, Monoammonium L-Glutamate, Monopotassium L-Glutamate

2. The test method of the confirmatory test, purity test, water solubility and quantitative assessment methods of Annatto, Cyanocobalamin and preservative preparations

• The scientific name of natural source materials of 59 natural fragrances, e.g. Ambergris

• The usage standard of 13 food additives

1. The categories of “infant cereal products” and “other infant food” have been consolidated into a single category now named “infant auxiliary food”. 11 fortifier standards have been revised to align with the new categorization. They are Copper Gluconate, Manganese Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, Vitamin K1, 5'-Cytidylic acid, Disodium 5'-Cytidylate, 5'-Adenylic Acid, Disodium 5'-Uridylate, copper sulphate, zinc sulfate.
   

2. The usage standard of 2 other additives has been revised namely potassium hydroxide and heme iron. Heme iron was deleted from the category of nutritional fortification and added into the category of food additive.

• The test method of disinfection and sterilization in general tests

• Materials required for the safety review shall be submitted when using processing aids in other purposes, e.g. materials for toxicity test, daily intake, etc..