Grocery Manufacturers Association Launches International Food Additives Database

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has launched an International Food Additive Database designed to provide industry with easy access to accurate and current regulatory requirements on food additives in importing countries around the world.

 "The International Food Additive Database will be an invaluable tool in helping to expand export markets for U.S. specialty and processed food products," said Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).  "The Database will help U.S. exporters ensure the products they are shipping comply with the food additive standards and regulatory requirements in the export market and, by establishing a single global source of food additive standards, it will also help U.S. federal trade officials prevent and eliminate trade barriers to U.S. food products."

The International Food Additive Database uses the Codex General Standards for Food Additives (GFSA) as its baseline.  Development of the Database was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The long term objective is to expand the Database over time so that it includes all major export markets for U.S. value added products. Currently, the food additive regulatory requirements for Codex, China, Korea,, Argentina,  Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Japan, Peru, Singapore, Taiwan and Uganda are included in the Database.   Additional markets will continue to be included through 2011.  The database was publicly launched during the Codex Committee on Food Additives in China, in March of this year and canbe accessed at www.foodadditivedatabase.com.