Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

        Color Additives

Color Additive Petitions Home
          For Industry
          Color Additives
          Color Additive PetitionsColor Additives Color Additive Petitions
  	
        Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintAs prescribed by law, a color additive must be shown to be safe and be listed in the CFR before it may be used to color foods, drugs, cosmetics or certain medical devices. An interested person may petition the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of a proposed color additive and submit data demonstrating its safety and suitability as described in 21 CFR Part 71. The FDA will, upon written request, advise on the adequacy of experiments planned to yield these data (21 CFR 70.42(c)). If, upon evaluation of the data in the petition, additional data, and public comments, the Agency finds that the proposed color additive is safe and suitable for the intended use, then a regulation may be issued or an existing regulation altered, thereby listing the color additive for such use. The color additive will be listed in 21 CFR Part 73 if it is exempt from batch certification, or in 21 CFR Part 74 if it is subject to batch certification.

Petition Listings

Food and Color Additives Final Rules
	Food Additive and Color Additive Petitions Under Review or Held in Abeyance
	Regulatory Status of Color Additives
	Food Additive ListingsPetition Guidance

Guidance for Industry: Color Additive Petitions - FDA Recommendations for Submission of Chemical and Technological Data on Color Additives for Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, or Medical Devices
	Guidance for Industry: Preparing a Color Additive Petition for Submission to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition for Color Additives Used in or on Contact Lenses
	Guidance for Industry: Preparing a Claim of Categorical Exclusion or an Environmental Assessment for Submission to CFSAN
	Summary Table of Recommended Toxicological Testing for Additives Used in Food
	Pre-Petition Consultations for Food Additives and Color Additives
	Redbook
	Ingredients, Additives, GRAS & Packaging Guidance Documents & Regulatory InformationRelated Information

Providing Regulatory Submissions to OFAS
	CFSAN Online Submission Module (COSM)

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      10/17/2023
                  
                   
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesTopic(s)
			  IngredientsColor Additive Petitions
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop