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Commonwealth legislation
This Schedule lists which chemical substances may be used as food additives in specific food classes and sets maximum permitted levels (MPLs) or permits use at Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). It also sets rules for how permissions flow down food‑class headings, allows additives in preparations, and includes special conditions (for example surface applications and infant formula limits). Food manufacturers, importers, retailers and regulators must follow these limits when formulating, labelling and selling foods; a transitional rule lets some infant formula products comply with old or new rules until 13 Sept 2029.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 15 – Substances that may be used as food additives.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Schedule 15 Substances that may be used as food additives
Note 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.
Substances used as food additives are regulated by Standard 1.1.1 and Standard 1.3.1. This Standard:
● identifies substances for subparagraph 1.1.2—11(2)(a)(i); and
● contains permissions to use substances as food additives for paragraph 1.3.1—3(1)(a); and
● contains associated restrictions for paragraph 1.3.1—3(1)(b); and
● sets out maximum permitted levels for section 1.3.1—4.
Note 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.
S15—1 Name
This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 15 – Substances that may be used as food additives).
Note Commencement:
This Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.
S15—2 Permissions to use substances as food additives
Unless the table to section S15—5 expressly provides otherwise, for each class of food identified by a numbered heading in the table to section S15—5, the substances that may be *used as a food additive in any food within that class are the following:
(a) any of the substances listed directly under the heading;
(b) any of the substances listed directly under a higher-level heading.
Example For the heading numbered 4.3.4, higher-level headings are those numbered 4.3 and 4. However, headings such as those numbered 4.3.4.1, 4.3.3, 4.2 and 3 are not higher-level headings.
Note In many cases, there is more than 1 substance listed directly under a heading.
S15—3 Preparations of food additives
If a substance may be *used as a food additive under the table to section S15—5:
(a) the substance may be added in the form of a preparation of the substance; and
(b) other substances may be used as food additives in the preparation in accordance with the permissions under category 0 of the table (preparations of food additives).
S15—4 Definitions
(1) In the table to section S15—5:
(a) MPL means the maximum permitted level, measured (unless otherwise indicated) in mg/kg; and
(b) a reference to ‘GMP’ is a reference to the maximum level necessary to achieve 1 or more technological purposes under conditions of GMP.
(2) If a food without a garnish would be included in items 1 to 14 of the table to section S15—5, it will also be included if a garnish is added.
S15—5 Table of permissions for food additives
The table to this section is:
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:453.6pt; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="6" style="width:442.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblh2" style="margin-top:6pt"><span>Permissions for food additives</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblh3"><span>INS (if any)</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblh3"><span>Description</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblh3"><span>MPL</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:95.5pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblh3"><span>Conditions</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; vertical-align:top"></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="6" style="width:442.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAddh1"><span>0</span><span style="width:79.49pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Preparations of food additives</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span>Additives permitted at GMP</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span></span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>200 201 202 203</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span>Sorbic acid and sodium, potassium and calcium sorbates</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>1 000</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>210 211 212 213</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Benzoic acid and sodium, potassium and calcium benzoates</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>1 000</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>216</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (propylparaben)</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>2 500</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>218</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (methylparaben)</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>2 500</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>220 221 222 223 224 225 228</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Sulphur dioxide and sodium and potassium sulphites</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>350</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>243</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Ethyl lauroyl arginate</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>200</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>304</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Ascorbyl palmitate</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>GMP</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>307</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Tocopherol, d-alpha-, concentrate</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>GMP</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>307b</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Tocopherols concentrate, mixed</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>GMP</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>308</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Synthetic gamma-tocopherol</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>GMP</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>309</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Synthetic delta-tocopherol</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>GMP</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>310</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Propyl gallate</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>100</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>311</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Octyl gallate</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>100</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>312</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Dodecyl gallate</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>100</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>319</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Tertiary butylhydroquinone</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>200</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>320</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Butylated hydroxyanisole</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd2"><span>200</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:95.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCtblAdd1"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:72.6pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>385</span></p></td><td style="width:201.8pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FSCbasetbl" style="margin-top:1pt; margin-bottom:1pt"><span>Calcium disodium EDTA</span></p></td><td style="width:40.2pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt
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