More smoke flavourings soon banned in the EU

📣 Fresh from the press! See the EU Commission newsroom.

⚠ Member States have endorsed a proposal from the EU Commission to not renew the authorisation of 8 smoke flavourings for food.

📅 The Regulation will set out different phase-out periods to give time for producers and operators to adapt to the new rules.
When used to replace traditional smoking (e.g. hams, fish, cheeses) the phase-out period is 5 years.
For uses where the smoke flavouring is added for extra flavour (e.g. soups, crisps, sauces), the phase-out period will be 2 years.

The Regulation will be formally adopted by the Commission in the coming weeks, to enter into force later this spring.

🔬 The relevant decisions are based on scientific assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which concluded that for all eight smoke flavourings assessed, genotoxicity concerns are either confirmed or can’t be ruled out. You can find them on the EFSA dedicated webpage.