Regulations no. 126 of 2002 on Various Substances in Foodstuffs.

The Regulations are issued pursuant to the provisions of article 29 of the Law no. 54 of 1996 on Food (Control and Sale) and incorporate European Directives of the Commission 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners and 96/77/EC, establishing specific purity criteria for food additives except of colours and sweeteners. The Regulations include substances such as preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilisers, antioxidants, acidity regulators, hygroscopic agents. The Health Service is the Competent Authority responsible for applying the Regulations and for checking the compliance of food ingredients declared on the label with the provisions of the Regulations. Matters covered by these Regulations include: permitted various substances as well as their purity criteria; foods that cannot contain various substances; foods that can only contain certain permitted various substances; foods that are allowed to have preservatives or antioxidants, the type of preservative or antioxidant as well as their maximum allowed amount; various substances and their maximum levels that may be added to certain foods; permitted carriers and solvents; permitted various substances that may be added to infant food.