Amendment of Food Sanitation Law and Food Additives.

Abstract

The Food Sanitation Law established in 1947 was amended in May, 1995. It passed more than 20 years since the last amendment in 1982, and changes of circumstances about foods necessitated the amendment. One of the biggest change was a change of the eating habits and another was increase of quantity and kinds of imported foods. There also was an increase of people's interest in health, and many people have had concern about their foods. Compared with the old law, the most important and remarkable change in the new law was shown in the article concerning the so-called"natural food additives". Namely, it becomes necessary to be permitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to use new"natural food additives"after the law becomes effective. According to the newly amended law food additives are divided into the following four categories : "permitted additives"(including both chemical synthetics and natural food additives permitted after the amendment of the law), "existing natural food additives, ""natural perfumes"and"additives usually used as foods."A list for"existing natural food additives"and lists of examples of"origin of natural perfumes"and"additives usually used as foods"have published. All additives included in these categories need labeling, except in the case otherwise specified, when they are used in foods.