On July 28, 2017, the European Commission amended the Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and the Reg EU No 231/2012, by adding potassium polyaspartate to the list of food additives.
On 24 February 2015, an application was submitted for the authorisation of the use of potassium polyaspartate as a stabiliser in wine. The application was made available to the Member States pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008.
The European Food Safety Authority evaluated the safety of potassium polyaspartate as a food additive and in its opinion of 9 March 2016 concluded that there was no safety concern from the proposed use in wine at a maximum use level of 300 mg/L and typical levels in the range of 100-200 mg/L.
Potassium polyaspartate acts as a stabiliser against tartrate crystal precipitation in wine (red, rosé and white wine). It enhances the keeping quality and stability of wine and its use does not have an impact on the sensory properties. It is therefore appropriate to include potassium polyaspartate in the Union list of food additives and to assign E 456 as E-number to that additive to enable its authorisation as a stabiliser in wine in the specific provisions of the relevant Union legislation.