HC Deb 12 December 1962 vol 669 cc71-3W
Mr. Oram

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the list of colouring matters and food additives which may be added to food for human consumption in the United Kingdom compares with the list recently agreed upon by the Council of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

The only European Economic Community directive concerned with food additives which has been issued deals with colours. The following are the particulars:

  1. I. The following coal tar colours are permitted in the United Kingdom† and by the European Economic Community directive:
    • Red—
      • Carmoisine
      • Amaranth
      • Ponceau 4R
      • *Erythrosine BS
    • Yellow—Tartrazine
    • Orange—Sunset Yellow FCF
    • Blue—Indigo Carmine
    • Green—*Green S
    • Black—Black PN
  2. II. The following coal tar colours are permitted by the E.E.C. directive but not in the United Kingdom:†
    • Red—
      • Ponceau 6R
      • Scarlet GN
    • Yellow—
      • Chrysoine S
      • Fast Yellow
      • Quinoline Yellow
    • Orange—Orange GGN
    • Blue—
      • Indanthrene Blue
      • Patent Blue
    • Black—Black 7984
  3. III. The following coal tar colours are permited in the United Kingdom† but not by the E.E.C. directive:
    • Red—
      • Ponceau MX
      • Red 10B
      • Red 2G
      • Red 6B
      • Red FB
      • Ponceau SX
      • Ponceau 3R
      • Fast Red E
    • Yellow—
      • Oil Yellow GG
      • Naphthol Yellow S
      • Yellow 2G
      • Yellow RFS
      • Yellow RY
      • Oil Yellow XP
    • Orange—
      • Orange G
      • Orange RN
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    • Blue—Blue VRS
    • Violet—Violet BNP
    • Brown—
      • Brown FK
      • Chocolate Brown FB
      • Chocolate Brown HT
  4. IV. As far as natural colours are concerned the regulations in the U.K. and the E.E.C. directive are closely similar. The main differences in this category are that Copper Chlorophyllin Compound is permitted by the E.E.C. directive but not in the United Kingdom, and Titanium Dioxide is permitted for all uses in the United Kingdom, but only for colouring the surface of food by the E.E.C. directive.

* Permitted for 3 years only by the European Economic Community directive.

† By the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations, 1957 (S.I. 1957, No. 1066) which applies to England and Wales;

The Colouring Matter in Food (Scotland) Regulations. 1957 (S.I. 1957, No. 1123), and

The Colouring Matter in Food Regulations, 1961 (S.R & O. Northern Ireland 1961, No. 99).

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