Food Colouring E171 to be Banned from 7 February

Luxembourg's Ministry of Consumer Protection has announced that the ban on the use of the food colouring E171 in manufacturing will come into effect on 7 February 2022, with a six-month transition phase.

The regulation relating to the prohibition of titanium dioxide (more widely known as E171), a white colouring used in food products such as confectionery, chewing gum, pastries, soups or ready meals, was published on 14 January 2022. The ban on the use of this additive in manufacturing will come into effect next month. The authorities have informed Luxembourg food operators of the terms of application of this new regulation.

In May 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that titanium dioxide could no longer be considered safe as a food additive, given its genotoxic potential and the fact that it can accumulate in the organism. Following this report, the European Commission, together with the Member States of the European Union (EU), decided to ban E171 as a food additive throughout the EU.

The regulation in question, published earlier this month, provides for the prohibition of the use of titanium dioxide in foodstuffs produced from 7 February 2022. It grants a transition phase until 7 August 2022 during which foodstuffs manufactured under the rules applicable before 7 February may continue to be placed on the market. This transition phase ends with the expiry date (date of minimum durability or use-by date) of the foodstuffs in question.

The regulation applies to both food produced on EU territory and imported food. The authorities have informed the sector managers and will carry out checks to ensure that the regulation is respected in Luxembourg.