1 
 
Notification  
Withdrawal of  80 food a dditives , which are  no longer distributed in Japan, from the 
List of the Existing Food Additives   
 
Purpose  
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare  (hereinafter referred to as “MHLW”) intends to 
withdraw 80 food additives from the List of the Existing Food Additives.1
Currently these 80 food additives have been found to be no longer  distributed in Japan  and are 
supposed to be withdrawn from the List and consequently will be prohibited for use on and after 18 
May 2011 at the latest . These 80 food additives are identified in Ministry of Health, Labour and 
Welfare Notification No. 215, which was issued on 18 May 2010, for comments  from public .   
 
Background  
According to Article 2 -3 of the Supplementary Provisions of Law No.101 of 1995 ( Law to Partially 
Revise the Food Sanitation Law and Nutrition Improvement Law  2
In this decision making process, the Minister publishes  a notification listing food additive s 
concerned intended to be withdrawn, for the purpose of seeking  public comments.  According to 
the provision and process  above , 70 additives have been withdrawn  in the past 7 years since 2003 .  ), the Minister of Health, Labo ur 
and Welfare is responsible for its risk management decision to withdraw food additives from the List 
of the Existing Food Additives in the Ministry of Health and Welfare Announcement No. 120, 1996 , 
when  it is determine d that food additives  concerned , or preparations or foods containing them are no 
longer marketed . Such decision should be made, taking into account thoroughly the actual situation 
of the sale, manufacturing, import, processing, use, storage, and display of the substances.  
 
In the identification of the 80 food additives  mentioned above , the MHLW took into consideration 
carefully outcome of a survey carried out in 2009  addressing substances in the situation that their 
distribution was unknown.  
The survey was aimed at examining the situation on sale, manufacturing, import, processing, use, 
storage, and display of such substances  in the market in Japan. Through a thorough analysis of the 
survey result, the MHLW concluded that they were no longer distributed  in the domestic market. 
Individual names of 80 food additives a re identified in the attachment.. 
                                                   
1 “Existing food additives” refer to non -synthetic food additives that were marketed or used on the date 
of the amendment of the Food Sanitation Law (May 24, 1995) and that appear in the List of Existing 
Food Additives.  
2 The Nutrition Improvement Law is the present H ealth Promotion Law.  2 
 
 
Criteria for the selection of the 80 substances for withdrawal3
a. Those whose distribution was not confirmed in Japan;   are as follows:  
b. Those whose distribution was confirmed but whose use as food additives was not 
confirmed4
c. Those for which requests for withdrawal were filed by their manufacturers: Catechin, 
Crayfish colour, Copal resin, Sphingolipid (bovine brain), and Dammar resin.  : and  
 
The M HLW submitted a report containing the result of the survey on the 80 food additive -list and 
the conclusion above to the  Subcommittee on Food Additives , a consultative body assigned by the 
Minister. The Subcommittee considered them and agreed to give the following advice to the 
Minister , which was suggest ing that it would be appropriate to withdraw these 80 additives from the 
List the List of the Existing Food Additives .   
 
Action to be taken  
Following the issuance of the Notification No.215 on 18 May 2010, the MHLW  should take its 
decision making process . This process includes  seeking public comment during a six-month period.  
Timeline of this process is as follows:  
1. On May 18 2010 :  Publish ed the Notification No.215listing food additives for  
withdraw .  
 
 Comment period (6 months, including WTO notification ) 
Those who claim to modify the list should submit an application to the 
MHLW with documents which prove actual distribution of the additives 
concerned, or preparations or food containing them in the market in Japan.  
 
2. November 17 2010 :  Due date for comment  submission. 
 
 
 
3. In another six month period, the List  of the Existing Food Additives will be revised to 
                                                   
3 Natural flavoring agents, which are obtained from animals and plants or mixtures of thereof for 
flavoring to food, are outside the scope of this activity.  
4 As mentioned in the background, the use of these substances is not prohibited as long as they are used  
as ingredients of food commodities.  3 
 
formally withdraw these additives. The List will come into force on 18 May 2011  at the 
latest. T hereafter, the use of them as food additives is prohibited.  Attachment 
List of Existing Food Additives To Be Withdrawn  
(As of May 2010)  
 
No. Name of s ubstance name  Reference 
No. 
in the List 
of Existing 
Food 
Additives ) 
1 N-Acetylglucosamine  (N-アセチルグルコサミン ) 11 
2 Arabino galactan （アラビノガラクタン）  21 
3 Alkanet colour （アルカネット色素）  
 A substance which is obtained from alkanet roots and 
whose main component is  alkanin.  23 
4 Aloe vera extract  (アロエベラ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from aloe leaves and 
whose main compo nents are polysaccharides.  28 
5 Sweet potato carotene (イモカロテン ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the tuberous 
roots of sweet potatoe s and whose main compo nent is  
carotene.  37 
6 Japanese styrax benzoin extract ( エゴノキ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation  of 
ansoku -ko-no-ki trees ( Styrax Benzoin  DRY.)  and 
whose main compo nent is  benzoic acid.  44 
7 Ellagic acid  (エラグ酸 ) 46 
8 Krill colour  (オキアミ色素 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from krill shells or 
eyes and whose main compo nent is  astaxanthin.  49 
9 Oligo -N-acetylglucosamine (オリゴ -N-アセチルグルコ
サミン)  52 
10 Oligoglucosamine (オリゴグルコサミン ) 54 
11 Cacao carbon black  (カカオ炭末色素 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the seed coats of 
cacao beans and whose main compo nent is  carbon.  61 
12 Gastric mucin（ガストリックムチン）   65  A substance which is obtained from mammals' gastric 
mucosa e and whose main compo nents are  
mucopolysaccharides.  
13 Catechin (カテキン ) 70 
14 Crayfish colour  (カニ色素 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from crayfish shells or 
eyes and whose main compo nent is  astaxanthin.  72 
15 Aloe extract  (キダチアロエ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the leaves of 
Kidachi aloe  (Aloe arborescens  MILL.)  and whose 
main compo nents are  polysaccharides.  94 
16 Phellodendron bark extract  (キハダ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the bark of 
phellodendron trees ( Phellodendron amurense  RUPR.)  
and whose main compo nent is  berberine.  100 
17 Gutta hang kang  (グッタハンカン ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
gutta hang kang trees ( Palaquiu m leiocarpum  
BOERL. ) and whose main compo nents are  amyrin 
acetate and polyisoprenes.  113 
18 Green tuff  (グリーンタフ ) 116 
19 Mulberry bark extract  (クワ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the rhizome 
skins of mulberry and whose main compo nents are  
stilbene derivatives and flavonoids.  133 
20 Gentian root extract  (ゲンチアナ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from gentian roots or 
rhizomes and whose main compo nents are  
amarogentin and gentiopicroside.  136 
21 Enzymatically modified licorice extract  (酵素処理カン
ゾウ)  
 A substance which is obtained by adding glucose to 
licorice extract ( refer to No. 88 Licorice extract) using 
cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase and whose main 
compo nents are  α-glucosylglycyrrhizic acids.  140 
22 Enzymatically modified tea extract  (酵素処理チャ抽出 141 物) 
 A substance which is obtained by adding glucose to 
tea extract (refer to No. 2 32 Tea extract) using 
cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase.  
23 Enzymatically hydrolyzed coix extract  (酵素分解ハトム
ギ抽出物)  
 A substance which is obtained by enzymatically 
hydrolyzing the seeds of Job's tears ( Coix lacryma -Jobi 
var. ma -yuen STAPF ). 147 
24 Copal resin  (コーパル樹脂 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
copal trees and whose main  compo nent is  
agathenedicarboxylic acid.  155 
25 Cobalt  (コバルト ) 156 
26 Resin of depolymerized natural rubber  (ゴム分解樹脂 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from rubber (refer to 
No. 1 59 Rubber)  and whose main compo nents are  
diterpenes, triterpenes and tetraterpenes.  160 
27 Enzymatically decomposed rice bran  (コメヌカ酵素分
解物)  
 A substance  which is obtained from defatted  rice 
bran and whose main compo nents are  phytic acid and 
peptides.  162 
28 Bamboo grass colour  (ササ色素 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the leaves of 
bamboo grass  and whose main compo nent is 
chlorophyll.  165 
29 Cane wax  (サトウキビロウ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from cane stems and 
whose main compo nent is  myricyl palmitate.  166 
30 Sandarac resin  (サンダラック樹脂 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
sandarac trees and whose main compo nent is  
sandaracopimaric acid.  171 
31 Shikon colour [Lithospermum root colour] (シコン色
素) 180  A substance which is obtained from the roots of 
murasaki  (Lithospermum  erythrorhizon  SIEBOLD et 
ZUCCARINI)  and whose main compo nent is shikonin.  
32 Jamaica quassia extract  (ジャマイカカッシア抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the 
trunks/branches or bark of Jamaica quassia trees and 
whose main components are quassin and neoquassin.  185 
33 Calcinated calcium  (焼成カルシウム ) 
 Calcinated calcium is defined as a  substance which is 
obtained  by calcinating sea urchinshells, shells, coral, 
whey, bones or eggshells  and whose main compo nents 
are calcium compounds.   This time, c alcinated 
calcium  obtained from sea urchinshell s will be 
expected to be withdrawn.  187 
34 Sclero gum [Scleroglucan]  (スクレロガム ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the culture fluid  
of Sclerotium glucanicum  and whose main 
compo nents are polysaccharides.  193 
35 Sphingolipid  (スフィンゴ脂質 ) 
 Sphingolipid is defined as a  substance which is 
obtained from bovine brains or rice bran  and whose 
main compo nents are  sphingosine derivatives. This 
time s phingolipid obtained from bovine brains  will be 
expected to be withdrawn.  197 
36 Sesamolin  (セサモリン ) 203 
37 Sesbania gum  (セスバニアガム ) 
 A substance which is obtained from sesbania seeds 
and whose main compo nents are  polysaccharides.  205 
38 Sorva [Leche caspi] (ソルバ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
sorva trees  and whose main compo nents are  amyrin 
acetate and polyisoprenes.  212 
39 Sorvinha  (ソルビンハ ) 
 A substance which is  obtained from the exudation of 
sorvinha trees ( Couma utilis  MUELL.)  and whose 
main compo nents are  amyrin acetate and 213 polyisoprenes.  
40 L-Sorbose  (L-ソルボ－ス ) 214 
41 Tannin (extract) (タンニン  (抽出物 )) 
 Tannin is defined as a  substance  which is obtained 
from Japanese persimmon fruits, chestnut astringent 
skins, Japanese gall, tamarind seed coats, angelica 
powder, nutgall or silver wattle bark and whose main  
compo nents are tannin and tannic acid.   This time, 
tannin obtained from chestnut astringent skins or 
tamarind seed coats  is expected to be withdrawn.  226 
42 Dammar resin  (ダンマル樹脂 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudate  of 
trees  of Shorea spp., Hopea spp., or Agathis spp. and 
whose main components are resin and 
polysaccharides . 227 
43 Tea seed saponin  (チャ種子サポニン）  
 A substance which is obtained from tea seeds and 
whose main compo nents are saponins.  231 
44 Chilte  (チルテ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
chilte trees ( Chidoscolus elasticus  LUNDELL)  and 
whose main compo nents are amyrine acetate and 
polyisoprenes.  233 
45 Tunu  (ツヌー ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
tunu trees ( Castilla fallax  COOK)  and whose main 
compo nents are  amyrine acetate and polyisoprenes.  235 
46 Depolymerized natural rubber  (低分子ゴム ) 
 A substance which is obtained by decomposing the 
exudation of para rubber trees and whose main 
compo nents are polyisoprenes.  238 
47 Tourmaline  (電気石 ) 244 
48 Cholesterol  (動物性コレステロール ) 
 A substance which is obtained from fish oil or lanolin 
(refer to No. 395  Lanolin)  and whose main compo nent 
is cholesterol.  248 49 Dokudami extract  (ドクダミ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the leaves of 
dokudami  (Hauttuyniae coradata  THUNB.)  and 
whose main compo nent is  isoquercitrin.  249 
50 Triacylglycerol lipase  (トリアシルグリセロールリパー
ゼ) 258 
51 Quassia extract  (ニガキ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the 
trunks/branches or bark of nigaki  trees ( Picrasma 
quassioides  BENN.)  and whose main compo nent is  
quassin.  268 
52 Niger gutta  (ニガーグッタ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
niger gutta trees ( Ficus platyphylla  DELILE.)  and 
whose main compo nents are  amyrin acetate and 
polyisoprenes.  269 
53 Absinth extract  (ニガヨモギ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the whole 
absinth grass and whose main compo nents are  
sesquiterpenes . 270 
54 Nystose  (ニストース ) 271 
55 Olibanum  (ニュウコウ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
olibanum trees and whose main compo nents are  α- 
and β-boswellic acids.  273 
56 Garlic extract (ニンニク抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from garlic bulbs and 
whose main compo nents are  allylsulfides.  275 
57 Paffia extract  (パフィア抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the roots of paffia 
(Paffia iresinoides  SPRENGEL) and whose main 
compo nents are ecdysteroids and saponins.  281 
58 Isodonis extract  (ヒキオコシ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the stems or 
leaves of hiki-okoshi  (Isodon japonicus  HARA) and 
whose main compo nent is  enmein.  288 59 Himematsutake extract  (ヒメマツタケ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the mycelium or 
fruit body of hime -matsutake  (Agricus blazei  MURR.) 
or its culture fluid.  295 
60 Pimento extract  (ピメンタ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from pimento fruits 
and whose main compo nents are  eugenol and thym ol. 296 
61 Hesperetin  (ヘスペレチン ) 331 
62 Powdered annatto  (ベニノキ末色素 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from annatto seeds  
and whose main compo nents are  norbixin and bixin.  335 
63 Venezuelan chicle  (ベネズエラチクル ) 
 A substan ce which is obtained from the exudation of 
Venezuelan chicle trees and whose main compo nents 
are amyrin acetate and polyisoprenes.  338 
64 Pepper extract  (ペパー抽出物 ) 
 A substan ce which is obtained from pepper fruits  and 
whose main compo nents are feruperines . 339 
65 Gard en balsam extract  (ホウセンカ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtai ned from the whole plant 
of garden balsam and whose main compo nent is 
naphthoquinone.  348 
66 Hokosshi extract  (ホコッシ抽出物 )  
 A substance which is obtained from the seeds of 
hokosshi  (Psoralea corylifolia O.KZE.) and whose 
main compo nent is  bakuchiol.  349 
67 Massaranduba chocolate  (マッサランドバチョコレー
ト) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
massaranduba chocolate trees and whose main 
compo nents are amyrin acetate and polyisoprenes.  359 
68 Massaranduba balata  (マッサランドババサラ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
massaranduba balata trees and whose main 
compo nents are  amyrin acetate and polyisoprenes.  360 
69 Methylthioadenosine  (メチルチオアデノシン ) 372  A substance which is obtained from Saccharomyces  
spp. and whose main compo nent is  
5’-dehydroxy -5’-methylthioadenosine.  
70 Mousouchiku charcoal extract  (モウソウチク炭抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained by extraction from the 
carbonized stems of mousou -chiku  bamboo 
(Phyl lostachys heterocycla  MITF.).  377 
71 Morin  (モリン ) 385 
72 Montan wax  (モンタンロウ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from brown coal or 
lignite and whose main compo nents are esters of fatty 
acids and tetracosyl -triacontanyl alcohol or 
hexacosyltriacontanyl alcohol.  386 
73 Vegetable oil soot colour  (油煙色素 ) 
 A substance which is obtained by burning vegetable 
oils and whose main compo nent is  carbon.  388 
74 Eucalyptus leaf extract （ユーカリ葉抽出物）  
 A substance which is obtained from eucalyptus leaves 
and whose main compo nents are  β-diketones.  389 
75 Linter cellulose  (リンターセルロース ) 
 A substance which is obtained from single cotton 
filament and whose main compo nent is  cellulose.  405 
76 Leche de vaca  (レッチュデバカ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
leche de  vaca trees ( Brosimum utile  (H.B.K.) PITT.)  
and whose main compo nents are  esters of amyrin.  410 
77 Levan  (レバン ) 
 A substance  which is  obtained from the culture fluid 
of Bacillus subtilis  and whose main compo nents are  
polysaccharides.  411 
78 Lemon peel extract  (レモン果皮抽出物 ) 
 A substance which is obtained from lemon peels  and 
whose main  compo nents are  geraniol and citral.  412 
79 Rosidinha  (ロシディンハ ) 
 A substance which is obtained from the exudation of 
rosidinha trees ( Sideroxylon ) and whose main 416 compo nents ar e amyrin acetate and polyisoprenes.  
80 Wasabi extract  (ワサビ抽出物 ) 
 A substance which obtained from the rhizomes or 
leaves of wasabi  (Wasabia japonica  MATSUM.)  and 
whose main compo nent is  isothiocyanate  419