G/SPS/N/USA/3592

27 August 2026

(26-5946)

Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Original: English

1.

Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

If applicable, name of local government involved:

2.

Agency responsible: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin (including dyeing extracts but excluding animal black), whether or not chemically defined; preparations as specified in Note 3 to this Chapter based on colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin (HS code(s): 3203); Food technology (ICS code(s): 67)

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[X] All trading partners

[ ] Specific regions or countries:

5.

Title of the notified document: Gardenia Blue Interest Group; Filing of Color Additive Petition; Notification of Petition. Language(s): English. Number of pages: 2

https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-16944

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/USA/26_04406_00_e.pdf

6.

Description of content: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a petition, submitted by Gardenia Blue Interest Group (GBIG or petitioner), c/o Exponent, Inc., proposing that we amend our color additive regulations to expand the safe use of gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. The petition also proposes to lower the specification for arsenic in gardenia (genipin) blue.

The color additive petition was filed on 4 August 2026.

7.

Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.

8.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text):

[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number):

[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number):

[X] None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?

[ ] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:

9.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  

10.

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

11.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

[X] Trade facilitating measure

12.

Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document into the "Search" box and follow the prompts, and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

13.

Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

Text can be found in the Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 159, Page 53545 or on the Internet at: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-16944