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Substance group

What counts as Phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri…?

2 markets define Phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343 and E 450–452), and they don't all agree. Read each definition below. You tell us if your product contains it; we never guess from its name.

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Group

Definitions

Market
Definition
Listed members
Source
Annex II Part C: E 338–341, E 343 and E 450 — 452: Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates
Phosphoric acid, Sodium phosphates, Potassium phosphates, Calcium phosphates, Magnesium phosphates, Diphosphates, Polyphosphates
“E 338–341, E 343 and E 450 — 452: Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates”
Annex II, line 1672 (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-09European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Annex II, line 1672(opens in a new tab)
Annex II Part C (GB): E 338–341, E 343 and E 450 — 452: Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates
Phosphoric acid, Sodium phosphates, Potassium phosphates, Calcium phosphates, Magnesium phosphates, Diphosphates, Polyphosphates
“E 338–341, E 343 and E 450 — 452: Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates”
Annex II, line 730 (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-10The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk): Annex II, line 730(opens in a new tab)

Rules

Rules that use these definitions

149 rules.

Requirement
Applies when
Effective
Source
LimitGB
Phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343 and E 450–452) as defined in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)

Limit 3000 mg/kg (content basis)

Official text, current to 28 Jun 2024. legislation.gov.uk point-in-time version 2024-06-28 of Annex II, which the FSA register cites as the terms of authorisation (Annex II was omitted from the revised text from 2025-04-01).

  • EU food category: Flavoured fermented milk products including heat-treated products [01.4]

Depends on: eu food category code

In force since 20 Jan 2010

Applies to products placed on the market on or after 20 Jan 2010

Applies in GB from 20 January 2010 (retained Art. 35); the Annex text is the version in force on 2024-06-28, the last before Annex II was omitted from the revised legislation on 1 April 2025 (S.I. 2025/361); the FSA register keeps these terms of authorisation. Amendment dates of single rows not tracked.

From the official list: E 338-452 · Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · 3 000 · (1) (4)

Annex rows, Part E, category 01.4; row: E 338-452 Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · fetched 2026-10-10

The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as retained in GB, Annex II (domestic list) as in force on 2024-06-28(opens in a new tab)
LimitGB
Phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343 and E 450–452) as defined in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)

Limit 1000 mg/kg (content basis)

Official text, current to 28 Jun 2024. legislation.gov.uk point-in-time version 2024-06-28 of Annex II, which the FSA register cites as the terms of authorisation (Annex II was omitted from the revised text from 2025-04-01).

  • EU food category: Dehydrated milk as defined by Directive 2001/114/EC [01.5]

Depends on: eu food category code

In force since 20 Jan 2010

Applies to products placed on the market on or after 20 Jan 2010

Applies in GB from 20 January 2010 (retained Art. 35); the Annex text is the version in force on 2024-06-28, the last before Annex II was omitted from the revised legislation on 1 April 2025 (S.I. 2025/361); the FSA register keeps these terms of authorisation. Amendment dates of single rows not tracked.

From the official list: E 338-452 · Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · 1 000 · (1) (4) · only partly dehydrated milk with less than 28 % solids

Annex rows, Part E, category 01.5; row: E 338-452 Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · fetched 2026-10-10

The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as retained in GB, Annex II (domestic list) as in force on 2024-06-28(opens in a new tab)
LimitGB
Phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343 and E 450–452) as defined in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)

Limit 1500 mg/kg (content basis)

Official text, current to 28 Jun 2024. legislation.gov.uk point-in-time version 2024-06-28 of Annex II, which the FSA register cites as the terms of authorisation (Annex II was omitted from the revised text from 2025-04-01).

  • EU food category: Dehydrated milk as defined by Directive 2001/114/EC [01.5]

Depends on: eu food category code

In force since 20 Jan 2010

Applies to products placed on the market on or after 20 Jan 2010

Applies in GB from 20 January 2010 (retained Art. 35); the Annex text is the version in force on 2024-06-28, the last before Annex II was omitted from the revised legislation on 1 April 2025 (S.I. 2025/361); the FSA register keeps these terms of authorisation. Amendment dates of single rows not tracked.

From the official list: E 338-452 · Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · 1 500 · (1) (4) · only partly dehydrated milk with more than 28 % solids

Annex rows, Part E, category 01.5; row: E 338-452 Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · fetched 2026-10-10

The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as retained in GB, Annex II (domestic list) as in force on 2024-06-28(opens in a new tab)
LimitGB
Phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343 and E 450–452) as defined in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)

Limit 2500 mg/kg (content basis)

Official text, current to 28 Jun 2024. legislation.gov.uk point-in-time version 2024-06-28 of Annex II, which the FSA register cites as the terms of authorisation (Annex II was omitted from the revised text from 2025-04-01).

  • EU food category: Dehydrated milk as defined by Directive 2001/114/EC [01.5]

Depends on: eu food category code

In force since 20 Jan 2010

Applies to products placed on the market on or after 20 Jan 2010

Applies in GB from 20 January 2010 (retained Art. 35); the Annex text is the version in force on 2024-06-28, the last before Annex II was omitted from the revised legislation on 1 April 2025 (S.I. 2025/361); the FSA register keeps these terms of authorisation. Amendment dates of single rows not tracked.

From the official list: E 338-452 · Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · 2 500 · (1) (4) · only dried milk and dried skimmed milk

Annex rows, Part E, category 01.5; row: E 338-452 Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · fetched 2026-10-10

The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as retained in GB, Annex II (domestic list) as in force on 2024-06-28(opens in a new tab)
LimitGB
Phosphoric acid, phosphates, di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338–341, E 343 and E 450–452) as defined in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)

Limit 5000 mg/kg (content basis)

Official text, current to 28 Jun 2024. legislation.gov.uk point-in-time version 2024-06-28 of Annex II, which the FSA register cites as the terms of authorisation (Annex II was omitted from the revised text from 2025-04-01).

  • EU food category: Other creams [01.6.3]

Depends on: eu food category code

In force since 20 Jan 2010

Applies to products placed on the market on or after 20 Jan 2010

Applies in GB from 20 January 2010 (retained Art. 35); the Annex text is the version in force on 2024-06-28, the last before Annex II was omitted from the revised legislation on 1 April 2025 (S.I. 2025/361); the FSA register keeps these terms of authorisation. Amendment dates of single rows not tracked.

From the official list: E 338-452 · Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · 5 000 · (1) (4) · only sterilised, pasteurised, UHT cream and whipped cream

Annex rows, Part E, category 01.6.3; row: E 338-452 Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates · fetched 2026-10-10

The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as retained in GB, Annex II (domestic list) as in force on 2024-06-28(opens in a new tab)

See also

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