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Four additional sweeteners allowed in HK

Consumers will be allowed to use four additional sweeteners following legislative changes announced by the Government.

The Food Adulteration (Artificial Sweeteners) (Amendment) Regulation 2003 and the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulation 2003 is published in the Gazette today (October 24).

"The main purpose of this legislative amendment is to update the list of permitted sweeteners in the Food Adulteration (Artificial Sweeteners) Regulations," a Government spokesman said.

"Taking into account the safety assessment conducted by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives, four additional sweeteners - alitame, aspartame-acesulfame salt, saccharin potassium and potassium cyclamate - will be allowed for use in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the amendment regulations effective on December 19. 

"With the legislative amendments, the trade and consumers can have a wider choice of sweeteners," the spokesman added.

Amendments will also be made to the Preservatives in Food Regulations and the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations to ensure consistency.

Ends/Friday, October 24, 2003
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