Steviol Glycosides Are Approved in More Than 100 Countries
Since 1931, when two French scientists isolated the compounds behind stevia's sweet taste - steviol glycosides - they have been approved step by step by the main regulatory authorities around the world. Steviol glycosides are now permitted for use in more than 100 countries.
1970s-1980s
Japan began using stevia as a sweetener in food and beverages. Korea, China, Malaysia, Latin America and other countries and regions followed.
2008
High-purity steviol glycosides and Reb A were granted US GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status. In the same year, EU Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 listed glucosylated steviol glycosides for use as flavouring substances in food.
2010
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) specified nine steviol glycosides (purity of 95% or higher) for use in food and beverages, and set an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0-4 mg per kg of body weight per day, expressed as steviol equivalents (for high-purity stevia with a steviol glycoside content above 95%).
2011
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX) adopted steviol glycosides as a food additive and published its food-use standard. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed their safety and authorised steviol glycosides as a sweetener in the European Union.
2016
Canada announced the approval of several steviol glycosides as sweeteners in food. Health Canada's Food Directorate carried out a detailed safety assessment and found no safety concerns; in 2017, Canada approved all steviol glycosides derived from stevia as sweeteners for a range of foods.In China, National Health and Family Planning Commission Announcement No. 8 of 2016 approved glucosylated steviol glycosides for use as flavouring substances in food.
Since 2017
Regulators around the world have continued to issue new rules for stevia, including JECFA approval of all specifications of steviol glycosides obtained from the stevia plant, including all blends of steviol glycosides. Reb-A, Reb-D and Reb-M extracted from GL No.9 and GL No.10 stevia are approved for use in more than 100 countries.FEMA GRAS 28 (2017)approved glucosylated steviol glycosides for use as flavouring substances in food.
30 June 2022
China's National Food Safety Standard for Food Additive Steviol Glycosides GB1886.355-2022 was issued, adding four new glycosides - Reb E, Reb M, Reb N and Reb O - for a total of 13 steviol glycosides.
