Change to steviol glycosides labelling

Steviol glycosides, better known as stevia, are an intense sweetener roughly 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Since 2011, it has been permitted for use as a food additive in the European Union.

Some changes have recently been made regarding the use of steviol glycosides as an additive (E 960) in food.

Regulation (EU) 2021/1156 amended Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as well as the annex to Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.

The sweetener has in fact been split into two separate types:

• E 960a, or steviol glycosides from stevia
• E 960c, or enzymatically produced steviol glycosides

Why was this change needed?

This change followed a request to the European Commission to amend the specifications for steviol glycosides, in order to include, alongside the classic aqueous extraction from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni followed by recrystallisation, a more recent production method for rebaudioside M, namely a multi-step enzymatic process.

That process involves the bioconversion of purified stevia leaf extract (≥ 95% steviol glycosides) through enzymatic action in several steps to obtain rebaudioside M. This is followed by a series of purification and isolation steps to ultimately produce rebaudioside M (≥ 95%).

Assessment by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority,

showed that this processing method leads to different impurities than the classic production process. This gave rise to the need for, and request for, separate specifications.

Application of the new labelling

Both types may be used in food supplements. No distinction is made between the maximum limits for E960a and E960c in food supplements.

On the ingredient list on the label, these types are stated as follows:

• "sweetener: E 960a" or "sweetener: steviol glycosides from Stevia"
• "sweetener: E 960c" or "sweetener: enzymatically produced steviol glycosides"

New specifications have in the meantime been drawn up for the sweetener E 960c, but have not yet been published. These read as follows: "for rebaudioside M, D and AM, produced by enzymatic conversion of purified rebaudioside A or stevia leaf extract steviol"

The new sweeteners will respectively be given the additive numbers E 960c(II), E 960c(III) and E 960c(IV). However, this has no consequences for labelling, since these sweeteners may also be indicated as E 960c, without stating type (II), (III) or (IV).

Entry into force of the new labelling

The Regulation provides for a transitional period. The additive "E 960 steviol glycosides" and the foods containing it, labelled or placed on the market up to 3 February 2023 (i.e. up to 18 months after the Regulation entered into force), may be marketed until stocks are exhausted.

AMNorman is happy to help

Our Normanists specialise in implementing labelling changes and are the ideal partner for drawing up compliant label data. Contact us here.

Source: Be-Sup