UK Food Additives (post-1973)

Last updated: 3 April, 2019

Historical Development of Legal Controls (1925-2000)

Part 2 - Implementation of EU-based controls: 1973 - 2000

This page provides, in reverse chronological order, access to the main UK regulations on food additives between 1973 and 2000 as well as some supporting documents. The links provide access to only those for England and Wales - for Scotland and Northern Ireland, separate controls were issued from the mid-1950s.

For the earlier controls, see Part 1

Note: Although the legal requirements for food additives were primarily contained in the controls listed below, there were also additional requirements for specific foods or food categories that were imposed in other specific regulations. Those additionl regulations are not included here.

For an overview of the developments, see the introductory page: Historical Development of Legal Controls (1925-2000) - Summary

For more recent developments, see: Food Additives in the European Union

2000

• Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 481)
  These Regulations, which apply only to England, amend the Colours in Food Regulations 1995 by bringing up to date a reference to Commission Directive 95/45/EC laying down specific criteria concerning colours for use in foodstuffs (O.J. No. L226, 22.9.95, p. 1), so as to cover its amendment by Commission Directive 1999/75/EC (O.J. No. L206, 5.8.1999, p. 19), which changed the specification for “E160a(i) Mixed Carotenes”, and by bringing up to date references to the 1995 Regulations in other Regulations.

1999

• Miscellaneous Additives in Food Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 1136)
  These Regulations implement– (a) European Parliament and Council Directive 98/72/EC amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners; and (b) Commission Directive 98/86/EC amending Commission Directive 96/77/EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners.
• Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 982)
  These Regulations further amend the Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995, by bringing up to date a reference to Directive 95/31/EC on specific purity criteria so as to cover its amendment by Directive 98/66/EC, which changed the specification for isomalt, and by bringing up to date references to the 1995 Regulations in other Regulations.

1997

• Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No 814)
  Incorporates the requirements of Directive 96/83/EC into the Regulations.

1996

• Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996 No 1477)
  Makes a correction to the wording of the principal regulation.

1995

• Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995 (SI 1995 No 3187)
  Replaced:
  • Solvents in Food Regulations 1967 (SI 1967 No 1582)
  • Antioxidants in Food Regulations 1978 (SI 1978 No 105)
  • Miscellaneous Additives in Food Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No 1834)
  • Preservatives in Food Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No 533)
  • Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No 876)
• Colours in Food Regulations 1995 (SI 1995 No 3124)
  Replaced the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973 (SI 1973 No 1340)
• Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995 (SI 1995 No 3123)
  Replaced the Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1983 (SI 1983 No 1211)

1993

• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993 No 1161)

1992

• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992 No 165)

1991

• Antioxidants in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991 No 2540)

1989

• Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No 2287)
• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No 876)
  Replaced the Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No 1833)
• Preservatives in Food Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No 533)
  Replaced the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1979 (SI 1979 No 752)

1988

• Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988 No 2112)
  Added Lactitol to the list of permitted sweeteners.

1987

• Colouring Matter in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1987 (SI 1987 No 1987)

1983

• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1983 (SI 1982 No 1810)
• Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1983 (SI 1983 No 1211)
  Replaced the Artificial Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1969 (SI 1969 No 1817)

1982

• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1982 (SI 1982 No 16)
• Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1982 (SI 1982 No 15)
• Miscellaneous Additives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1982 (SI 1982 No 14)

1980

• Miscellaneous Additives in Food Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No 1834)
  Replaced the Miscellaneous Additives in Food Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No 1121)
• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No 1833)
  Replaced the Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1975 (SI 1962 No 1486)
• Antioxidants in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No 1831)
• Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1980 (SI 1980 No 931)

1979

• Preservatives in Food Regulations 1979 (SI 1979 No 752)
  Replaced the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1975 (SI 1975 No 1487)

1978

• Colouring Matter in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1978 (SI 1978 No 1787)
• Antioxidants in Food Regulations 1978 (SI 1978 No 105)
  Replaced the Antioxidant in Food Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No 1120)

1977

• Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1977 (SI 1977 No 645)

1976

• Colouring Matter in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976 No 2086)
  Removed the following colours from the permitted list: Fast Yellow AB E101, Orchil or Orcein E121, Solanthrene Blue RS or Anthragen Blue or Ubdabtgrebe Blue E130, Black 7984 E152 and Burnt Umber E181.
• Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976 No 1887)
• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976 No 1886)

1975

• Colouring Matter in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1975 (SI 1975 No 1488)
• Preservatives in Food Regulations 1975 (SI 1975 No 1487)
  Replaced the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No 1119)
• Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1975 (SI 1962 No 1486)
  Replaced the Emulsifiers and Stabilisers in Food Regulations 1962 (SI 1962 No 720)
• Miscellaneous Additives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1975 (SI 1975 No 1485)

1974

• Miscellaneous Additives in Food Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No 1121)
• Antioxidant in Food Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No 1120)
  Replaced the Antioxidant in Food Regulations 1966 (SI 1966 No 1500)
• Preservatives in Food Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No 1119)

1973

• Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973 (SI 1973 No 1340)

For the earlier controls, see Part 1

Page first provided: 3 April 2019