SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS ġ S.L.231.44 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 231.44
SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS 
REGULATIONS
1st January, 2001
LEGAL NOTICE 268 of 2000.
Title .
Foodstuffs Regulations.
Scope and 
applicability.
2.1 These regulations shall apply to sweeteners which are
used-
( a ) in the preparation of foodstuffs to impart a sweet taste
to foodstuffs,
( b ) as table top sweeteners.
2.2 These regulations shall not apply to foodstuffs with
sweetening properties.
Interpretation.
Cap. 231.
"energy-reduced" means with an energy value reduced by at least
30% compared with the original foodstuff or a similar product;
"food" has the same meaning as defined in the Act;
"infants" means children under the age of twelve months;
" quantum satis " means that no maximum level is specified;
however, sweeteners shall be used in accordance with good
manufacturing practice, at a dose level not higher than is necessary
to achieve the intended purpose and provided the consumer is not
misled;
"with no added sugar" means without any added mono- or
disaccharides or any other foodstuff used for its sweetening
properties;
"young children" means children aged between one and three
years.
Permitted 
sweeteners.
4.1 Only sweeteners listed in the Schedule may be placed on
the market with a view to -
( a ) sale to the ultimate consumer, or
( b ) use in the manufacture of foodstuffs.
4.2 Sweeteners referred to in regulation 4.1( b ) may only be
used in the manufacture of those foodstuffs listed in the Schedule
and in accordance with the conditions specified therein.
4.3 The provisions of regulations 4.1 and 4.2 shall supersede
any other requirement in any other regulations which are in conflict
with these regulations.
4.4 Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants and young
2 ġ S.L.231.44 SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS
children, including food for infants and young children who are not
in good health, unless otherwise laid down in specific provisions.
4.5 The maximum usuable doses indicated in the Schedule
refer to ready-to-eat foodstuffs, prepared according to the
instructions for use, where appropriate.
4.6 Without prejudice to other provisions, the presence of a
sweetener in foodstuffs is also permissible -
( a ) in compound foods with no added sugar or energy-
reduced, in compound dietary foods intended for a
low-calorie diet and in compound foods with a long
shelf-life, other than those mentioned in regulation
4.4, provided the sweetener is permitted in one of the
ingredients of the compound foodstuffs;
( b ) if the foodstuff is intended to be used solely in the
preparation of a compound foodstuff which conforms
to these regulations.
Provisions of other 
legal notices.
5.1 These regulations shall apply without prejudice to specific
regulations permitting additives listed in the Schedule to be used
for purposes other than sweetening.
5.2 These regulations shall also apply without prejudice to
other provisions governing the composition and the description of
foodstuffs.
Table-top 
sweeteners.
6.1 The sales description of a table-top sweetener must include
the term -
" ............ based table-top sweetener", using all names
of all sweetening substances used in its composition.
6.2 The labelling of a table-top sweetener containing polyols
and/or aspartame must bear the following warnings:
( a ) aspartame: "contains a source of phenylalanine";
( b ) polyols: "excessive consumption may induce laxative
effects".
Foodstuffs 
containing 
sweeteners.
7.1 Foodstuffs may contain a permitted sweetener or a mixture
of two or more permitted sweeteners as specified in the Schedule,
provided that the amount of each sweetener added does not exceed
the respective maximum usable doses specified for that sweetener,
and that the total amount of the added sweeteners does not exceed
the highest value of the specified maximum usable doses for the
sweeteners used.
S.L.231.27 7.2 In addition to the provisions laid down in the Labelling,
Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs Regulations, foodstuffs
containing a sweetener or sweeteners shall be labelled with the
words "with sweetener(s)" accompanying the name under which the
product is sold.
7.3 For sweeteners containing both an added sugar or sugars
and a sweetener or sweeteners, the provisions of regulation 7.2
shall apply except that the words "with sweetener(s)" shall be
substituted by the words "with sugar(s) and sweetener(s)".
7.4 In addition to the provisions of regulations 7.2 or 7.3,
SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS ġ S.L.231.44 3
foodstuffs containing aspartame and/or more than 10% added
polyols shall bear the warnings specified in regulation 6.2( a ) and
( b ).
Purity criteria.
sweeteners must comply with the criteria of purity laid down in
European Community Directive 95/31/EC, as amended.
4 ġ S.L.231.44 SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS
SCHEDULE
List of Permitted Sweeteners
Foodstuffs EC Number and name of 
sweeteners
Maximum usable 
dose
Desserts and similar products  (energy
reduced or with no added sugar
E 420 Sorbitol
(i) Sorbitol
(ii) Sorbitol syrup
quantum satis
Water-based flavoured desserts E 421 Mannitol quantum satis
Milk- and milk-derivative-based
preparations
E 953 Isomalt quantum satis
Fruit- and vegetable-based desserts E 965 Maltitol
(i) Maltitol
(ii) Maltitol syrup
quantum satis
Egg-based desserts E 966 Lactitol quantum satis
Cereal-based desserts E 967 Xylitol quantum satis
Breakfast cereals or cereal-based products
Fat-based desserts
Edible ices
Jams, jellies, marmalades and crystallized
fruit
Fruit preparations, with the exception of
those intended for the manufacture of fruit
juice-based drinks
Confectionery : E 420 Sorbitol
(i) Sorbitol
(ii) Sorbitol syrup
quantum satis
Confectionery with no added sugar
Dried-fruit-based confectionery, energy
reduced or with no added sugar
E 421 Mannitol quantum satis
Starch-based confectionery, energy-
reduced or with no added sugar
E 953 Isomalt quantum satis
Cocoa-based products, energy reduced or
with no added sugar
E 965 Maltitol
(i) Maltitol
(ii) Maltitol syrup
quantum satis
Cocoa-, milk-, dried-fruit- or fat-based
sandwich spreads, energy reduced or with
no added sugar
E 966 Lactitol quantum satis
Chewing gum with no added sugar E 967 Xylitol quantum satis
Sauces
Mustard
Fine bakery products, energy reduced or
with no added sugar
Products intended for particular
nutritional uses
Solid food supplements/dietary
integrators
SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS ġ S.L.231.44 5
Maximum usable dose
Foodstuffs E 950 E 951 E 952 E 954 E 957 E 959
Acesulfame 
K
Aspartame Cyclamic 
acid and its 
Na and Ca 
salts
Saccharin 
and its Na, 
K and Ca 
salts
Thauma-
tin
Neohes-
peridine 
DC
Non-alcoholic drinks
Water-based flavoured drinks,
energy-reduced or with no
added sugar 350mg/l 600mg/l 400mg/l 80mg/l - 30mg/l
Milk- and milk derivative-
based drinks, energy-reduced
or with no added sugar 350mg/l 600mg/l 400mg/l 80mg/l - 30mg/l
Fruit juice-based drinks,
energy-reduced or with no
added sugar 350mg/l 600mg/l 400mg/l 80mg/l - 30mg/l
Gaseosa : non-alcoholic
water-based drink with added
carbon dioxide, sweeteners
and flavourings - - - 100mg/l - -
Desserts and similar products
The following desserts,
energy-reduced or with no
added sugar: water-based
flavoured desserts, milk- and
milk derivative-based
preparations, fruit- and
vegetable-based desserts,
egg-based desserts, cereal-
based desserts, fat-based
desserts 350mg/kg 1000mg/kg 250mg/kg 100mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Snacks : certain flavours of
ready-to-eat, prepacked, dry,
savoury starch products and
coated nuts 350mg/kg 500mg/kg - 100mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Breakfast cereals with a fibre
content of more than 15% and
containing at least 20% bran,
energy-reduced or with no
added sugar 1200mg/kg 1000mg/kg - 100mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Confectionery
Confectionery with no added
sugar 500mg/kg 1000mg/kg 500mg/kg 500mg/kg 50mg/kg 100mg/kg
Cocoa- or dried-fruit-based
confectionery, energy-
reduced or with no added
sugar 500mg/kg 2000mg/kg 500mg/kg 500mg/kg 50mg/kg 100mg/kg
Starch-based confectionery,
energy-reduced or with no
added sugar 1000mg/kg 2000mg/kg 500mg/kg 300mg/kg - 150mg/kg
Cocoa-, milk-, dried-fruit- or
fat-based sandwich spreads,
energy-reduced or with no
added sugar 1000mg/kg 1000mg/kg 500mg/kg 200mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Chewing gum with no added
sugar 2000mg/kg 5500mg/kg 1500mg/kg 1200mg/kg 50mg/kg 400mg/kg
Essoblaten 2000mg/kg - - 800mg/kg - -
Breath-freshening micro-
sweets, with no added sugar 2500mg/kg 6000mg/kg 2500mg/kg 3000mg/kg - 400mg/kg
Energy-reduced tablet-form
confectionery 500mg/kg - - - - -
6 ġ S.L.231.44 SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS
Strongly flavoured freshening
throat pastilles with no added
sugar - 2000mg/kg - - - -
Alcoholic drinks
Cider and perry 350mg/l 600mg/l - 80mg/l - 20mg/l
Alcohol-free beer or with an
alcohol content not exceeding
1.2% vol.
Bière de table / Tefelbier /Table
beer (original wort content
less than 6%) except
Obergäriges Einfachbier
Beers with a minimum acidity
of 30 milli-equivalents
expressed as NaOH
Brown beers of the  oud bruin
type 350mg/l 600mg/l - 80mg/l - 10mg/l
Energy-reduced beer 25mg/l 25mg/l - - - 10mg/l
Drinks consisting of a mixture
of a non-alcoholic drink and
wine, beer, perry, cider or
spirits 350mg/l 600mg/l 250mg/l 80mg/l - 30mg/l
Spirit drinks containing less
than 15% alcohol by volume 350mg/l 600mg/l - 80mg/l - 30mg/l
Edible ices
Edible ices, energy-reduced
or with no added sugar 800mg/kg 800mg/kg 250mg/kg 100mg/kg 50mg/kg 50mg/kg
Cornets and wafers for ice
cream with no added sugar 2000mg/kg - - 800mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Fruit and vegetables
Canned or bottled fruit,
energy-reduced or with no
added sugar 350mg/kg 1000mg/kg 1000mg/kg 200mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Energy-reduced jams, jellies
and marmalades 1000mg/kg 1000mg/kg 1000mg/kg 200mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Energy-reduced fruit and
vegetable preparations 350mg/kg 1000mg/kg 250mg/kg 200mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Sweet-sour preserves of fruit
and vegetables 200mg/kg 300mg/kg - 160mg/kg - 100mg/kg
Fish, crustaceans, molluscs
Sweet-sour preserves and
semi-preserves of fish and
marinades of fish, crustaceans
and molluscs 200mg/kg 300mg/kg - 160mg/kg - 30mg/kg
Miscellaneous
Sauces 350mg/kg 350mg/kg - 160mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Mustard 350mg/kg 350mg/kg - 320mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Energy-reduced soups 110mg/l 110mg/l - 110mg/l - 50mg/l
Feinkostsalat 350mg/kg 350mg/kg - 160mg/kg - 50mg/kg
Bakery products
Fine bakery products for
special nutritional uses 1000mg/kg 1700mg/kg 1600mg/kg 170mg/kg - 150mg/kg
Special diets
Maximum usable dose
Foodstuffs E 950 E 951 E 952 E 954 E 957 E 959
Acesulfame 
K
Aspartame Cyclamic 
acid and its 
Na and Ca 
salts
Saccharin 
and its Na, 
K and Ca 
salts
Thauma-
tin
Neohes-
peridine 
DC
SWEETENERS FOR USE IN FOODSTUFFS ġ S.L.231.44 7
Complete formulae for weight
control intended to replace
total daily food intake or an
individual meal 450mg/kg 800mg/kg 400mg/kg 240mg/kg - 100mg/kg
Complete formulae and
nutritional supplements for
use under medical supervision 450mg/kg 1000mg/kg 400mg/kg 200mg/kg - 100mg/kg
Liquid food supplements/
dietary integrators 350mg/l 600mg/l 400mg/l 80mg/l - 50mg/l
Solid food supplements/
dietary integrators 500mg/kg 2000mg/kg 500mg/kg 500mg/kg - 100mg/kg
Food supplements/diet
integrators based on vitamins
and/or mineral elements,
syrup-type or chewable 2000mg/kg 5500mg/kg 1250mg/kg 1200mg/kg 400mg/kg 400mg/kg
Maximum usable dose
Foodstuffs E 950 E 951 E 952 E 954 E 957 E 959
Acesulfame 
K
Aspartame Cyclamic 
acid and its 
Na and Ca 
salts
Saccharin 
and its Na, 
K and Ca 
salts
Thauma-
tin
Neohes-
peridine 
DC
