The new flavor legislation was enacted in Germany on December 31, 1981, in order to comply with the EEC Labeling Directive of December 18, 1978.
The important new regulation is based on the so-called “flavoring substance concept,” which provides for a functional division of flavors into three classes: natural, nature-identical and artificial. An inherent provision of this concept is the “mixed-list system” in the following principle:
--Negative lists for natural aromatic raw materials and natural or nature-identical flavoring substances that are forbidden or restricted in use because of health aspects.
--Positive lists for artificial flavoring substances.