Is titanium dioxide (E171) banned in India?

Titanium dioxide is the white pigment in paint, sunscreen and toothpaste, and as INS 171 it whitens chewing gum, coated sweets, some sauces and the shells of capsules and tablets. In 2021 the European Food Safety Authority concluded that it could no longer rule out genotoxicity from the nanoparticle fraction. The European Union then removed the additive from its permitted list through Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 of 14 January 2022. The rule came into force on 7 February 2022, foods made under the old rules could be placed on the market until 7 August 2022, and after that date they could stay on shelves only until their date of minimum durability. Other regulators, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, reviewed the same evidence and kept it on their lists.

India has not followed. Appendix A to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations lists titanium dioxide among the permitted synthetic and inorganic colours, with limits set per food category. The table for powdered soft drink concentrate mix and fruit beverage drink allows a maximum of 100 ppm. The table for cocoa, chocolate, confectionery and chewing gum allows a much higher maximum of 10,000 ppm for sugar based and sugar free confectionery and for chewing gum and bubble gum; the column reading in that table is flagged for verification. Whether FSSAI's scientific panel has formally reviewed the 2021 EFSA opinion is not on record here.

The practical position for a shopper is straightforward. INS 171 on an Indian label is lawful. 'Banned in Europe' is a true statement about Europe rather than a description of Indian law.