Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/196 has officially applied across the European Union since August 18, 2026, introducing changes to the permitted uses and purity specifications of several widely used food additives.

The regulation covers carrageenan (E 407), locust bean gum (E 410), guar gum (E 412), gum arabic/acacia gum (E 414), xanthan gum (E 415), pectins (E 440), and starch sodium octenyl succinate (E 1450).

These ingredients are widely used across the food and nutrition industries as stabilizers, thickeners, emulsifiers, and texture-modifying agents. The new requirements are particularly important for products intended for infants, young children, and foods for special medical purposes.

Among the changes, the EU has revised permitted conditions of use for several of these additives in specific food categories and updated specifications relating to purity, including limits for certain toxic elements and microbiological criteria.

The regulation also includes transition provisions for additives and foods that were lawfully placed on the EU market before August 18, 2026. Certain existing stocks may continue to be used or marketed during the applicable transition periods.

What this means for the dietary supplement industry

Dietary supplement, functional food, ingredient, and medical-nutrition companies selling into the European Union should review whether affected additives are used in their formulations and confirm that ingredient specifications provided by suppliers comply with the revised EU requirements.

The changes may be particularly relevant to companies producing liquid nutritional products, powders, specialized nutrition products, and products for infants or children where gums, pectins, and modified starches are commonly used for stability and texture.

Ingredient suppliers should also evaluate certificates of analysis and specifications against the revised purity requirements. Compliance is no longer limited to whether an additive is permitted at a particular use level; the additive itself must also satisfy the updated EU specification.

Companies with affected products should therefore review formulations, supplier documentation, and EU market compliance rather than assuming that previously compliant specifications remain sufficient following the August 18 implementation date.

CIRS group is an HPA global regulatory strategic partner.

(Source: CIRS Group & HPA-Global)

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