- Department:Chemicals Administration Ministry of Environment
Recent food safety incidents have revealed how chemical substances not allowed to be used in food have entered the food chain and threatened the public’s health. In light of this, the EPA preannounced on 25 April 2017 that 13 chemical substances will be listed as toxic chemical substances in accordance with the Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act. The newly added chemical substances include those involved in recent food safety incidents, such as rhodamine B, methyl yellow, and Rongalite.
The EPA established the Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau on 28 December 2016, with one of its major tasks being the control of chemical substances that pose risks to food safety. Interministerial meetings and discussions with scholars and experts have been held to discuss measures for improved management. This has led to the preannouncement of 13 chemical substances previously used as illegal food additives as toxic chemical substances.
The 13 chemical substances are malachite green, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, dulcin (a sweetener), potassium bromate, dimethyl fumarate, benzyl violet 4B, methyl yellow, rhodamine B, dimethyl yellow, sodium hydroxymethylsulfinate (Rongalite), melamine, and coumarin. Some enterprises have illegally used these chemical substances to reduce costs and improve the presentation of food products. The chemicals can improve texture, color and aroma, extend the impression of freshness, and help food products pass inspections.
The EPA points out that once a chemical substance is formally announced as toxic, enterprises are not allowed to manufacture, import, or sell it without adhering to regulations within the allotted time period. This means, for example, completing reports before January 2018, finishing label designs before June 2018, and obtaining approval documents before December 2018.
The new regulations will enhance control over the flow of chemical substances in the market and reduce food safety risks. The EPA has also requested that suppliers add labels to containers explicitly stating that their contents are “prohibited for use in food,” in order to prevent their intentional or accidental usage in food products. The EPA noted the importance of interministerial cooperation and will enhance related information exchanges, carry out joint audits and inspections, and coordinate relevant regulations to improve food safety.
Source: EPA Environmental Policy Monthly, p.11, Vol. XX, Issue 5, 2017
