Condex agrees magnesium stearate should be on priority list for evaluation

The Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) concurs with IADSA recommendations to give precedence to magnesium stearate for evaluation and inclusion in the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA).

In a meeting in Beijing from March 18-22, the CCFA decided to put the additive on the priority list of food additives proposed for evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), following a request supported by IADSA for its safety assessment and the establishment of specifications for GSFA inclusion.

For over 80 years, magnesium stearate has been used by tablet manufacturers worldwide, and it is estimated that it is used in around 70% of all food supplement tablets produced.

“We are pleased that the CCFA had agreed to prioritise the evaluation of magnesium stearate in 2013, as it is essential for the production of supplement tablets and there is no effective alternative that will achieve the same function,” said IADSA chairman Peter Zambetti. “We will continue to provide scientific and technical support to help further the work of the CCFA, and we hope that Magnesium stearate’s eventual inclusion in the Codex General Standard for Food Additives will help to reduce trade barriers for food supplement products containing this additive in the future.”

During its meeting the CCFA also endorsAir Jordan