Titanium dioxide is now officially banned as an ingredient in foods and dietary supplements in the European Union on safety grounds. However, manufacturers can still place products containing the chemical compound on the market for six months, and then any products still on the market can remain until their expiry date. Meanwhile, the European Commission and pharmaceutical companies have three years to find titanium dioxide alternatives for medicines, or justify why it should continue to be used.
The European Commission has introduced a new regulation banning titanium dioxide in foods marketed in the European Union, including dietary supplements.
While the ban came into force with the publication on 14 January of the regulation (EU 2022/63 – which amends Annexes II and III to Regulation EC 1333/2008), products containing the ingredient