Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 259) B.E. 2545 (2002) Re: Application of Methyl Alcohol as Processing Aid in Some Foods

© 2003 FDA, MOPH. (Unofficial) Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 259) B.E. 2545 (2002) Re: Application of Methyl Alcohol as Processing Aid in Some Foods. Due to the acceptance of methyl alcohol to be used as food processing aid now a days, and in conjunction with the International Food Standard of Joint FAO/WHO Codex which are agreed for the use of such food processing. By the virtue of provisions of Section 5 and 6(1) (2) and (5) of the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979), in which contain provisions in relation to the restriction of Rights and Liberties of the Persons, in respect of which Section 29 and in conjunction with Section 35, Section 48 and Section 50 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand so permit by virtue of provisions of law; the Minister of Public Health hereby issues the notification as follows: Clause 1. Methyl alcohol may be used as processing aid in the following foods: (1) Calcium 5’-ribonucleotide or Disodium 5’-ribonucleotide according to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 38 B.E. 2522 (1979), Re: Prescribed food enhancers to be specific controlled foods and prescribed qualities or standards, dated 13th September B.E. 2522 (1979). (2) Stevioside according to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 262) B.E. 2545 (2002), Re: Stevioside and foods containing of Stevioside, dated 26th September B.E. 2545 (2002). Clause 2. In this notification, “processing aid” means substances or any matters which are not for consumption in the manner of food compositions but are used in production of raw materials or food ingredients, by the used technology between qualities adjustment or processing, in which these substances or their derivatives may be unintentional or inevitable left over, in this regard not to include to production equipments. Clause 3. The methyl alcohol used as processing aid in production shall follow to the following conditions: (1) Characteristics: clear and colourless liquid with inherent of specific odour, soluble in water, ether, and ethyl alcohol. (2) Specific properties: Methyl alcohol content not less than 99.5%. (3) Limitation of contaminations: (3.1) Specific gravity: between 0.792 and 0.795 (3.2) Refractive index: n(20,D): between 1.328 and 1.330 (3.3) Boiling point: approximately 65 degree Celcius (3.4) Water content: not more than 0.1% (by Carl-Fisher method) (3.5) Distillation temperature: between 64.5 and 65.5 degree Celcius (3.6) Residue left from evaporation: not more than 3 mg. per 100 ml. (3.7) Acidity (to be calculated as formic acid): not more than 15 mg. per 1 kg. (3.8) Alkalinity (to be calculated as ammonia): not more than 3 mg. per 1 kg. (3.9) Aldehyde and ketone (to be calculated as acetone): not more than 0.015% by weight per volume (3.10) Arsenic: not more than 1 mg. per 1 kg. (3.11) Heavy metal (calculated as lead): not more than 1 mg. per 1 kg. Clause 4. The qualities or standards of foods as stipulated in Clause 1 shall be detected for left over amount of methyl alcohol residue not more than 50 mg. per 1 kg. Clause 5. The expressions as stipulated in 2.11 of Clause 2 of the notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 151 B.E. 2536 (1993), Re: Prescribed prohibited substances to be used in foods, dated 28th December B.E. 2536 (1993), which is amended by the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 247) B.E. 2544 (2001), Re: Prescribed prohibited substances to be used in foods. (No. 2), dated 28th November B.E. 2544 (2001), shall not be enforced to foods as stipulated in Clause 1. Clause 6. This notification shall come into force as from the day following date of its publication in the Government Gazette. Notified on 9th July 2002. Signed Sudarat Keyurabhun (Mrs. Sudarat Keyurabhun) Minister of Public Health (Published in the Government Gazette Vol. 119, Special Part 91 Ngor, dated 30th September 2002.) Note: This English version of the notification is translated to meet the need of the non-Thai speaking people. In case of any discrepancy between the Thai original and the English translation, the former will take priority. © 2003 FDA, MOPH. © 2003 FDA, MOPH.