EFSA provides scientific advice to support the authorisation process of food flavourings by the European Commission.

Upon request from the Commission, our experts carry out risk assessments of food flavourings. These assessments take into account the data submitted by applicants on the flavouring’s chemical properties, potential toxicity and metabolism as well as dietary exposure estimates.

Our expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) reviews these data and concludes whether or not a food flavouring presents risks for the consumer under the proposed conditions of use.

EFSA has two main tasks in relation to food flavourings:

EFSA developed new guidance in December 2022 on the data required for the risk assessment of flavourings to be used in or on foods. The guidance applies to all applications submitted since 22 December 2022. Applications submitted before this date are subject to the previous guidance and explanatory notes.

Data requirements relate to:

Chemically defined flavouring substances that have structural and metabolic similarities have been evaluated together in “Flavouring Group Evaluations” (FGEs) opinions, using a group-based approach, as provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000.

EFSA has assessed approximately 2000 flavouring substances in this way, which were included in the first version of the Union list of flavourings published in 2012.

For a number of these substances, marked with a footnote in the Union list, we required additional data to conclude on their safety. EFSA is in the process of assessing these additional data.