Alert: ban on smoke flavorings

What does this mean for your preparation method, ingredients, and product label?

• The ban applies to the 8 smoke flavorings SF-001, SF-002, SF-003, SF-004, SF-005, SF-006, SF-008, and SF-009.
• Does your product contain one of these 8 smoke flavorings? If your product complies with the provisions for these smoke flavoring products as established in the EU list prior to August 21, 2024, your product may remain on the market until the end of its shelf life. You may also still place the product on the market. However, you must place the product on the market no later than July 1, 2029, or July 1, 2026 (depending on the type of product).
  • The July 1, 2029 deadline applies to food categories 1.7 (Cheese and cheese products), 8 (Meat), 9.2 (Processed fish and fishery products, including crustaceans and molluscs), 9.3 (Fish roe), and their respective subcategories.
  • The July 1, 2026 deadline applies to all other food products.
• Preparations containing (any of) these 8 smoke flavorings may still be used in food products until July 1, 2029, or July 1, 2026 (the date depends on the type of product). 'Preparations' are defined as: smoke flavorings or mixtures of one or more smoke flavorings with other food ingredients, such as flavorings, food additives, enzymes, or carriers, intended to facilitate their storage, sale, standardization, dilution, or dissolution.
• This means you must now proactively look for a new product formulation, new ingredients, or a new preparation method – along with the corresponding product and label updates – to comply with these new regulations.