United States of America Reopens Review of Halogenated Hydrocarbons in Food and Color Additives

United States of America is reopening the comment period to evaluate the removal of several hazardous solvents from color and food additive regulations, including ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, and benzene, under two separate petitions^{1, 2}.

USA – FOOD AND COLOR ADDITIVES

US Reopens Review of Hazardous Solvents in Additives

FDA seeks comments on removing halogenated hydrocarbons like benzene from regulations.

29 Jun 2026 Comment deadline

What changed

Comment period reopened to remove ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene from color additives¹.

Comment period reopened to remove benzene, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene from food additives².

Petitions target removal of halogenated hydrocarbons and cyclic hydrocarbons due to health and environmental concerns^{1, 2}.

Who it affects

Food and color additive manufacturers must prepare for the potential removal of these solvents from regulations^{1, 2}.

Stakeholders with scientific data must submit updated information to the FDA before the deadline^{1, 2}.

What to do

Review the petitions regarding color and food additive solvent removal^{1, 2}.

Submit updated scientific data or comments by the deadline.

Key dates

29 Jun 2026 — comment period closes^{1, 2}.

United States — halogenated hydrocarbons in food and color additives

The United States of America has initiated a public comment period to reassess the inclusion of hazardous solvents in food and color additive regulations, specifically targeting halogenated hydrocarbons and cyclic hydrocarbons due to environmental and health concerns. The FDA is reopening the comment period to allow for updated scientific data submitted over the past two years, with both the color additive and food additive petitions calling for the removal of ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene^{1, 2}. This action reflects a broader regulatory effort to phase out high-risk solvents from industrial and food applications, with the comment deadline set for June 29, 2026^{1, 2}.

Color Additive Solvent Review

The FDA is reopening the comment period to consider removing ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene from color additive regulations, citing concerns over health and environmental impacts, as part of a petition filed in January 2024¹.

Food Additive Solvent Review

The FDA is reopening the comment period to propose the removal of benzene, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene from food additive regulations, emphasizing safety and public health, under a separate petition².

Sources

↩ G/SPS/N/USA/3440/Add.1 — Color Additive Petition from Environmental Defense Fund, et al.; Request To Amend the Color Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Ethylene Dichloride, Methylene Chloride, and Trichloroethylene; Reopening of the Comment Period https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NUSA3440A1.docx
↩ G/SPS/N/USA/3439/Add.1 — Food Additive Petition From Environmental Defense Fund, et al.; Request To Amend the Food Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Benzene, Ethylene Dichloride, Methylene Chloride, and Trichloroethylene; Reopening of the Comment Period https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NUSA3439A1.docx