This statement outlines the position of SAAFFI with regard to the use of food flavourings in e-cigarettes.
SAAFFI’s primary focus is to support Members who manufacture flavourings for use in food and beverages and fragrances for use in toiletries, cosmetics & household products.
As such, we work with IOFI & IFRA, the global associations, to ensure flavouring and fragrance substances are safe. The Flavouring Standard for the South African Flavour Industry subscribes to the findings of a number of authorities that have evaluated flavouring substances for safety. This evaluation has only been conducted for ingestion, not inhalation. Therefore, SAAFFI is not in a position to endorse the use of flavourings in applications such as e-cigarettes.
This is in line with the position of the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI) detailed below:
“IOFI cannot support the safety of use of flavouring substances in e-cigarettes based solely on the fact that these flavouring substances have been declared safe for use in food and beverage according to their intended use.
The routes of flavour exposure between e-cigarettes and foods are fundamentally different: initial systemic exposure to flavors from food occurs primarily via the digestive tract, whereas for e-cigarettes it is likely to occur via the oral cavity and possibly the upper respiratory tract.
While the use of flavors in e-cigarettes may ultimately not pose a safety concern, current safety assessment paradigms and much of the available metabolism and toxicity data for flavouring substances cannot be used to draw that conclusion.”
There is currently no global regulatory authority assigned to evaluate the use of flavourings in e-cigarettes. Companies who wish to supply, or use, flavourings for this purpose should ensure they have the appropriate risk assessment in place.
• General Products Safety Directive (2001/95/EC)*,
• REACH (EC 1907/2006)*,
• The Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU)*.
And South Africa’s
• Dept. of Health Draft Bill – “Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems”
*Please refer to version currently in force.
SAAFFI can be contacted through Michael Gristwood or Sharon Bolel:
| Michael Gristwood Executive Director, SAAFFI Tel: +27 (0) 11 447 2757 Cell: +27 (0) 82 940 2757 info@saaffi.co.za |
Sharon Bolel Asst Executive Director, SAAFFI Tel: +27 (0) 11 786 2585 Cell: +27 (0) 83 449 2696 sharon@saaffi.co.za . |
