Regulatory Compliance Challenges with Synthetic Food Colours

In today’s world synthetic food colours are essential across multiple manufacturing industries, including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and more. These vibrant colours make the products visually appealing attracting the attention of the consumer and boosting product sales and brand recognition. However, manufacturers often face challenges in navigating the complex landscape of regulatory compliance for synthetic food colours. Each country and state has its own rules on the use of synthetic food colours which makes them crucial for businesses to stay informed and compliant.

In this article, we will explore some of the regulatory compliance challenges of synthetic food colours and how manufacturers can overcome these challenges and meet the required standards.

First and foremost it is crucial to know that every country and state has its own sets of standards for synthetic food colours that include:

United States (FDA): In the United States, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the governmental body that checks the safety and quality of colours in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. Colours such as FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6, etc., are approved by the FDA to use in products. Some colours are permanently banned for use in the US and some are approved for use in only certain products.

European Union (EFSA): The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) closely monitors synthetic food colours in the European Union. The EU has stringent purity standards and gives instructions to manufacturers to manufacturers for the proper labelling of products.

China (NHC): The National Health Commission (NHC) in China regulates synthetic food colours and approves various colours to use in products such as Carmoisine, Allura Red, and more. Manufacturers in China must follow the rules imposed by NHC while manufacturing products.

India (FSSAI): In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the body that regulates synthetic food colours under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. The FSSAI approves colours such as Erythrosine (Red 3), Sunset Yellow FCF (Yellow 6, and Brilliant Blue FCF (Blue 1), to use in products but in a limited volume that FSSAI approved as safe for human consumption. Manufacturers who do not follow the rules of FSSAI face legal problems which leads to fines and even product recalls. Manufacturers must use proper labelling with the INS number of the synthetic colour used in their products.

Similarly, each region also has its own requirements for product labelling, testing and acceptable daily intake levels, which makes it difficult for manufacturers who export their products on global level.

Changing Regulations: Regulations on synthetic food colours are changed from time to time, when any new research is done by scientists, or in any consumer pressure. Any colour that is approved to be used in products today can be banned tomorrow that’s why it is a must for manufacturers to be updated on these changes to maintain regulations on their products.

Ingredient Transparency: In recent years there has been a growing demand from consumers site for clear labelling on food additives including synthetic food colours. Manufacturers must provide the details of the ingredients and colours that they are used in the product.

Testing and Certification: Regulatory bodies of all countries do rigorous testing for synthetic food colours and check their safety and quality for human consumption then they approve the colour for use in products like food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. For example in India, the FSSAI checks every product batch and checks that the quality meets regulatory standards or not. Manufacturers also require various certifications like ISO, GMP, or HACCP that show the product is in compliance with food safety regulations.

Cultural and Market Preferences: Some markets of the world have more strict regulations or even cultural biases against to synthetic food colours like European. Manufacturers of the European Union follow some stricter regulatory standards than other countries or markets.

Regular Compliance Audits: First, manufacturers should conduct regular audits of their products that include reviewing ingredient sourcing, formulation, and labelling to ensure the compliance of their products with global and regional regulations. They can also partner with some regulatory experts which helps them to stay updated for any regulatory change.

Invest in Research and Development: Synthetic food colours manufacturers should invest in research and development to develop colours that meet global-level standards. A high-quality certified supplier of synthetic food colours ensures that your products meet the purity and safety requirements of various markets.

Leverage Technology for Compliance Tracking: Manufacturers can consider automated systems that track any regulatory update on synthetic food colours. This software tracks different markets in the world and provides the latest updates which is not possible with manual monitoring because it takes some time to track all the markets.

Partner with Trusted Suppliers: Food, cosmetics, or pharmaceutical manufacturers can source synthetic food colours from reliable suppliers and manufacturers who comply with international standards like Ajanta Food Colours, a global leader in the synthetic food colours manufacturing industry with over 75 years of legacy, providing a wide range of high-quality synthetic colours that meet the strictest regulatory standards across different markets around the world.

It is complex to navigate regulatory compliance for synthetic food colours because it is updated from time to time. Manufacturers should know these changes in regulatory compliance which help them to stand out in the global market. By staying informed, investing in quality, and maintaining close relationships with regulatory bodies, manufacturers can ensure that their products are compliant, safe, and competitive. 

At Ajanta Food Colours, we specialize in manufacturing and providing high-quality synthetic food colours for various industries such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and more. Our commitment to quality and compliance ensures that our clients can trust us to support their business success in national and international markets.

For more information about how we can help you to stay compliant with synthetic food colour regulations or for any other information, please contact us today!