European Union flavourings

In Europe chemically defined substances with flavouring properties, which are obtained by chemical synthesis, are defined in the European Union Flavouring Directive 88/388/EEC [6], article 1 No. 2(b) (ii) and (iii) in two categories (see 7.1 and 7.4.2) ... 

Smoke flavourings have to be authorised before entering the market both in USA and the European Union (EU). 

From a legal point of view it is interesting to note that up to now (IR)-configured stereoisomers of 3-oxo-p-methane-8-thiol have not been detected in nature. Therefore, those stereoisomers have to be classified as artificial flavourings in the sense of order regulations by the European Union. 

Flavourings are either food additives, i.e. in the USA see 7.5.1, or treated differently, i.e. in the European Union where they have a directive on their own, see 7.4.2. 

According to the main food industry regulations in the European Union and the USA, a flavour is said to be natural (Table 3) only if the raw material comes from the living pool and if physical or biochemical processes only have been involved during the different manufacturing steps. 

In the European Union (EU), there are lists of approved additives, designated E numbers as described in Table 4.2. The E stands for EC (European Community) and these ingredients have been tested for safety (allergenicity) and passed for use in the EU. Numbers that are not prefixed with an E may be allowed in the UK, for example, but may not have been passed for use in all EU countries. In the USA a different system is used which includes numbers instead. Therefore, for formulation purposes, the up-to-date lists of permitted flavouring and... 

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR, ESR) spectroscopy is a unique tool to answer specific questions evolving radical processes in both research and development (R D) as well as quality control (QC). Key QC examples comprise the food irradiation control for customer care according to European Union (EU) norms and the flavour stability and shelf life assessment on fresh beer. For the first time, an automated DPPH-assay to measure the effectiveness of antioxidants by CW-EPR is reported. 

In the European Union for flavorings, the current Flavouring Directive 88/388/EC still applies. This is the Council Directive of June 22,1988, on the approximation of the laws of the MS relating to flavorings for use in foodstuffs and to source materials for their production, as published in the Official Journal on 15/07/88 (OJ L 184, p. 61). It has been amended once by the Commission Directive 91/71/EEC of 16/01/91 (OJ L 42, p. 25,15/02/91). As this is a Directive, it is up to the EU MS to take the necessary measures to ensure that flavorings may not be marketed or used if they do not comply with the rules laid down in this Directive, as stated in Art. 3 of this Directive. 

For trade of F F (including pure substances and mixtures or preparations thereof and natural raw materials) within the European Union, certain rules apply within the European Industry which are established by the European Flavour and Fragrance Association Code of Practice (EFFA CoP). The following general considerations are taken over from the Introductory note to the EFFA CoP, which is published yearly on the EFFA website www.effa.be. It should be noted that the most recent... 

Official Journal oftheEuropean Union 31.12.2008, L 354/34 Regulation (EC) No. 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods and amending Council... 

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