Appro val/authorization for use of 3 -methyl -2-butanol  and 5,6,7,8 -tetrahydroquinoxaline  
 
This activity is to newly designate 3-methyl -2-butanol and 5,6,7,8- tetrahydroquinoxaline as 
authorized food additives.   Purpose  
 
Under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation  Law, food additives may be used  or marketed  only 
when they are authorized  by the Minister of Health , Labour  and Welfare.  Whe re standards  
for use of additives  and/or their compositional specifications are established  under  Article 11 
of the Law, those addi tives may be marketed only when they meet the  standards and/or 
specifications.   
 
In response to a request from the Minister, the Subcommittee on Food Additives under  the 
Food Sanitation Committee which is established under  the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Fo od 
Sanitation Council has discussed the adequacy of the designation of these substance s as food 
additives . Conclusion of the  subcommittee is outlined as below . 
 
The Minister should designate 3-methyl -2-butanol and 5,6,7,8- tetrahydroquinoxaline , based 
on Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Law , as food additive s unlikely to  harm human health,  
and establish compositional specifications for the se substance s, based on Article 11 of the law 
(see Attachment s 1 and 2).  Conclusion from the subcommittee  
 Attachment 1 
 
3-Methyl -2-buta nol 
 
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  Standard for use  
 
Name of the s ubstance : 3-Methyl -2-butanol  Compositional specifications  
Structural formula : 
H3C
CH3OH
CH3
 
Molecular formula : C5H12
Mol. Weight : 88.15  O 
Chemical name  [CAS number ]: 3-Methylbutan -2-ol [598-75-4] 
Content : 3-Methyl -2-buta nol contains not less than 98.0% of 3 -methyl -2-buta nol (C5H12
Description : 3-Methyl -2-buta nol occurs as a colorless, transparent  liquid having a 
characteri stic od or.    O).  
Identification : Determine the absorption spectrum of 3 -Methyl -2-buta nol, as directed in the 
Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare  with the Reference 
Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit similar  intensit ies of absorption a t the same wavenumbers . 
Purity :   
(1) Refractive index20
D  n: 1.406– 1.412.  
(2) Specific gravity25
25  d : 0.815– 0.821.  
Assay : Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas Chromatographic 
Assay under  the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions ( 2). Reference Spectrum  
 
  3-Methyl -2-butanol  
Attachment 2 
 
5,6,7,8 -Tetrahydroquinoxaline  
 
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  Standard for use  
 
Substance name : 5,6,7,8 -Tetrahydroquinoxaline  Compositional specifications  
Structural formula : 
NN
 
Molecular formula : C8H10N
Mol. Weight : 134.18 2 
Chemical name  [CAS number ]: 5,6,7,8 -Tetrahydroquinoxa line [34413 -35-9] 
Content : 5,6,7,8 -Tetrahydroquinoxa line contains not less than 98.0% of 
5,6,7,8 -tetrahydroquinoxa line (C8H10N2
Description : 5,6,7,8 -Tetrahydroquinoxa line occurs as a colorless  to light yellow liquid, having 
a characteristic  od or.    ).  
Identification : Determine the absorption spectrum of 5,6,7,8 -Tetrahydroquinoxaline , as 
directed in the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare with the 
Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit similar intensities of  absorption  at the same 
wavenumbers . 
Purity :   
(1) Refractive index20
D  n: 1.540– 1.550.  
(2) Specific gravity
Assay : Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas Chromatographic 
Assay under the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions ( 1).    1.078– 1.088.  Reference Spectrum  
5,6,7,8 -Tetrahydroquinoxaline