FIL-IDF is pleased to announce the publication of Bulletin of the IDF N° 540 (2026): Guidance on the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (CXS 192‑1995) for the dairy sector.
This new guidance document supports the dairy sector in navigating and applying the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) when assessing food additive permissions in milk and milk products.
Supporting practical use of the GSFA
Following the alignment of Codex dairy commodity standards, the GSFA has become the primary global reference for food additive permissions in dairy. While this alignment enhances harmonization and transparency, it has also increased the complexity of interpreting the Standard due to its structure, tables and cross‑references.
Bulletin of the IDF N° 540 addresses these challenges by:
- Explaining the structure and key elements of the GSFA
- Clarifying essential concepts such as food categories, maximum use levels and carry‑over
- Providing a clear, step‑by‑step approach to using the GSFA in practice
The guidance is intended for regulators, industry and other stakeholders, supporting consistent interpretation, science‑based decision‑making, fair trade, consumer protection and innovation in the dairy sector.
Acknowledgements
IDF sincerely thanks Cathy Zhang for leading this work, as well as the members of the IDF Standing Committee on Food Additives and the Action Team for their valuable expertise and contributions.
