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The EU has adopted its Food Improvement Agents Package (FIAP), a comprehensive set of rules that ensures consistent use of additives and enzymes throughout the EU.

The acceptance of the package means improved security for consumers, as food in the EU has to comply with the same strict requirements for additives and enzymes. In future, all additives and enzymes will be evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Danisco, a Danish provider of food ingredients, enzymes and bio-based solutions, released a statement following the news: "Danisco has followed the making of the FIAP closely and we're very satisfied with the outcome. It's a huge step forward for the consumers, who can now be confident that in future, additives have to meet the same standards throughout the EU.

"For us as an industrial business, the harmonisation particularly in the enzyme area means that we now only have to obtain approval from one central authority. This is a good result for the consumers and the industry."

In addition to harmonising the rules, the adoption also means that fixed time limits will be established for approval procedures as well as shorter processing time for applications filed by the industry.

EU countries will monitor the consumption of additives and submit the results to the European Commission and EFSA going forward.