Titanium dioxide (E171) is banned in food in Europe

On January 14, 2022, the European Commission published a Regulation amending Annexes II (Union list of food additives approved for use in foods) and III (Union list of food additives approved for use in food additives, food enzymes, food flavourings, nutrients) of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the food additive titanium dioxide (E171).

Here are the main changes brought by this regulation (COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2022/63 of 14 January 2022):

• An update of Annexes II and III of Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 presented in the annex to this Regulation (EU) 2022/63: titanium dioxide is no longer authorized in foods but it can be temporally used in medicines. As well, reference to it from the entry on the use of potassium aluminium silicate (E 555) as a carrier laid down in Part 1 of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 has been removed from the list.
• Until August 7, 2022, food produced in accordance with the rules applicable before February 7, 2022 can continue to be placed on the market. After this date, they can remain on the market until the date of minimum durability or the expiry date.
• Within three years of the date of entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission, after consulting the European Medicines Agency, shall review the need to maintain titanium dioxide (E171) on the list of Union of food additives listed in Annex II, Part B, of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 for exclusive use as a colorant in medicinal products, or to remove it from this list.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. To find out more, you can directly consult the Regulation (EU) 2022/63.

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