Food colours: call for data to support re-evaluation

To ensure a high level of consumer protection, all authorised food additives in the EU have been evaluated for their safety[1] and the European legislation on food additives[2] requires that these substances be re-evaluated where necessary in the light of new scientific information and changing conditions of use. EFSA has been mandated by the European Commission to carry out a systematic re-evaluation of authorised food additives in order to ensure that the safety of all such additives is regularly assessed taking into account most recent studies and any new evidence.

EFSA is giving top priority to colours, as requested by the Commission, because they were among the first additives to be evaluated under European legislation, and several new studies have become available since the original assessments were done. Within this framework some 45 colours are to be re-assessed by EFSA’s AFC Panel[3] during the next months.

EFSA is looking to gather for these colours: safety data that was not considered in the original assessments; information on uses in foods, on the purity of colours and production methods. In addition to the national food safety authorities EFSA is particularly addressing this call for data to manufacturers and other stakeholders. EFSA has directly contacted third parties to request such data and has published the open call on its website at: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/panels/faf .