Background

The regulatory background for the eFLAVIS is the Commission legislation causing the establishment of a Union list of flavouring substances legally used in the EU.

European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) N° 2232/96 sets out the basic rules for the use of flavouring substances in or on foodstuffs in the EU. It furthermore lays down a procedure for the establishment of a Community list of flavouring substances. It is anticipated that the evaluation programme will end second half 2009, which is more than four years later than foreseen. As a consequence, the adoption of the Community list has been postponed to the end of 2010.

Procedure for the establishment of Community list of flavouring substances

The flavouring substances authorised for use in foodstuffs at national level have been listed by the Commission in a Register of about 2700 substances, adopted as Commission Decision 1999/217/EC, last amended by Commission Decision 2009/163/EC. Following the establishment of this register, an evaluation programme was adopted by the Commission Regulation (EC) N° 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000.

Within five years of the adoption of the programme, in accordance with Regulation (EC) N° 2232/96, a Community list of flavouring substances, the use of which is authorized to the exclusion of all others, must be drawn up. It is anticipated that the evaluation programme will end second half 2009, which is more than four years later than foreseen. As a consequence, the adoption of the Community list has been postponed to the end of 2010.

The future authorization of newly notified flavouring substances (after September 2011) is laid down in the Commission Regulation (EC) N° 1331/2008 and 1334/2008.

The European Commission has adopted the list of flavouring substances given in Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) N° 1334/2008 in Commission Regulation (EC) N° 872/2012. The Union list of flavourings has been amended on a number of occations.