Regulation 22

In these Regulations, “flavouring agent” means any wholesome substance that when added or applied to food is capable of imparting taste or odour, or both, to a food.

No person shall import, sell, advertise, manufacture, consign or deliver any natural or synthetic flavouring essence or extract which is contained in a solvent other than a permitted solvent, namely, 1,3‑propanediol, benzyl alcohol, beta-cyclodextrin, diacetin, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, glycerol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, triacetin and water.

The permitted solvents referred to in paragraph (2) other than water shall conform with the British Pharmacopoeia standard.

The permitted flavouring compounds may also be carried in an emulsion of a permitted emulsifier as provided under regulation 21 with any of the permitted solvents mentioned in this regulation.

Natural flavouring agents shall include natural flavouring essences, spices and condiments.

Natural flavouring essences or extracts shall be preparations in any permitted solvent or any combination of permitted solvents, with or without sweeteners other than sweetening agents, permitted colouring matter or chemical preservatives, of sapid or odoriferous principles, or both, derived from a plant after which the flavouring extract or essence is named.

The use of coumarin, tonka bean, safrole, sassafras oil, dihydrosafrole, isosafrole, agaric acid, nitrobenzene, dulcamara, pennyroyal oil, oil of tansy, rue oil, birch tar oil, cade oil, volatile bitter almond oil containing hydrocyanic acid and male fern as flavouring agents is prohibited.

Articles of food may have in them natural flavouring agents as specified in these Regulations.

Synthetic flavouring essences or extracts shall include any artificial flavour or imitation flavour which may resemble the sapid or odoriferous principles of an aromatic plant, fruit or vegetable or any other food, except that the flavouring principle shall be derived in whole, or in part, from either chemical synthesis or any other sources that does not involve extraction or isolation therefrom of the sapid or odoriferous principles present in an aromatic plant, fruit or vegetable or any other food.

No person shall import, sell, advertise, manufacture, expose or offer for sale, consign or deliver with a view to it being used in the preparation of food for human consumption, any synthetic flavouring essence or extract which contains any of the prohibited substances specified in paragraph (7).