Details of the Announcements

On October 12, 2026, China's National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) opened a public consultation on six proposed food additive applications. Comments must be submitted by November 12, 2026.

While all six applications have successfully passed the expert review committee's technical assessment for safety and technological necessity, they remain open for public review. The proposal covers:

• One New Food Processing Enzyme;
• Two New Nutrient Fortifiers;
• One Processing Aid (Expanded Use);
• One Nutrient Fortifier (Expanded Use); and
• One Nutrient Fortifier (Expanded Specifications).

Breakdown of Proposed Additives

New Food Processing Enzyme (one type)

D-Allulose 3-epimerase

The application concerns a new food processing enzyme produced using a new production strain. The enzyme is primarily used to convert D-fructose into D-allulose. Its specifications must comply with GB 1886.174, National Food Safety Standard: Food Additives—Enzyme Preparations for the Food Industry.

Food Nutrition Enhancer (two types)

1,3-Diunsaturated Fatty Acyl-2-Palmitoyl Glycerol (UPU)

The proposed food categories are formulated milk powder intended for children only, infant formula, follow-on infant and young child formula, and foods for special medical purposes for infants. The proposed use levels are as follows:

For liquid products, the use level is to be calculated according to the dilution factor. When UPU is used in combination with 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl glycerol (OPO), the combined amount must not exceed 96 g/kg. The proposed specifications apply to products produced by lipase-catalysed interesterification using edible vegetable oils, oleic acid derived from edible vegetable oils, and linoleic acid derived from edible vegetable oils.

Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT)

LNT is proposed as a nutrient fortifier for formulated milk powder intended for children only, infant formula, follow-up infant and young child formula, and foods for special medical purposes for infants. Its use levels, permitted food categories, and specifications are to follow the draft provisions for LNT in CFSA's earlier consultation on four new food additives, titled "Public Consultation on Four New Food Additives, Including Lipase", excluding the information on production microorganisms in Appendix C.

Food additives with expanded application scope (one type)

White mineral oil (liquid paraffin)

The proposed extension would allow its use as a coolant in the processing of microbial preparations intended for food processing. Its specifications must comply with GB 1886.215, National Food Safety Standard: Food Additive—White Mineral Oil (Also Known as Liquid Paraffin).

Food nutrition enhancer with expanded application scope (one type)

Calcium 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate

The proposed extension would permit its use in rice that does not require washing. The use level is to be expressed as folic acid and must follow the provisions in GB 14880, National Food Safety Standard: Standard for the Use of Nutritional Fortification Substances in Foods, applicable to folic acid in rice that does not require washing.

Food additives with expanded specification requirements (one type)

Vitamin E (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate, esterification process)

Additional specifications are proposed for vitamin E produced by chemical synthesis using 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone diacetate and isophytol as raw materials. Other requirements are to follow GB 14756, National Food Safety Standard: Food Additive—Vitamin E (dl-α-Tocopheryl Acetate). The consultation materials also address its use in formulated milk powder, vegetable oils, margarine and similar products, soy flour and soy milk powder, soy milk, chewing gum, ready-to-eat cereals including rolled oats, certain sports nutrition foods, specified beverage categories and jelly.

What Can CIRS Do for You

Established in 2007, the CIRS Group is a leading product safety and regulatory consulting firm. CIRS has branch offices in the Republic of Ireland, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China. CIRS Group utilizes its technical expertise, various resources, and international network to provide one-stop compliance services, from regulatory compliance, laboratory testing, and R&D to data services across multiple industries. This includes chemicals, cosmetics, food and food beverages, medical devices, agrochemical products, disinfectants, and consumer goods. It helps clients gain a competitive advantage by reducing business risks associated with regulatory affairs.

The vast majority of members in CIRS Food Business Division have over 10 years of professional experience in food compliance, with more than 80% holding Master’s or Doctoral degrees in food-related disciplines. The CIRS toxicology expert team consists of 24 Chinese Certified Toxicologists (DCST), 2 American Board Certified Toxicologists (DABT), and 1 European Registered Toxicologist (ERT). CIRS has provided one-stop food compliance services to over 1,000 domestic and international food and related enterprises. Leveraging its technical expertise, diverse resources, and global network, the CIRS Food Business Division offers global food compliance services, including but not limited to:

• Health food registration and filing in China;
• Application for “Three New Foods (new food additives, new food raw materials and new food-related products” in China;
• U.S. GRAS, NDI, and CAP notifications;
• EU Novel Food, food additives, and food enzymes applications; and
• Application for new feed ingredients and feed additives in China, the U.S., and the EU.

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