The EU’s Ban On TiO2 In Food May Impact Pharma. Here’s What You Should Know.

In March 2020, the European Commission requested an updated opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on titanium dioxide's safety. Although EFSA's 2016 opinion found no immediate safety concerns, it noted data gaps, especially regarding particle size, which can affect its toxicological properties. The new EFSA opinion from May 2021 doesn't definitively label E171 as harmful but doesn't dismiss health risks like genotoxicity. Since the safety cannot be confirmed, the European Commission (EC) banned titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive in the EU, starting with a six-month phasing out period from Feb. 7, 2022, to Aug. 7, 2022, after which a full ban applied.

Regulations • Regulatory