The Regulation and Labeling of Vanilla Flavorings and Products in the United States

 

John Hallagan

FEMA

Washington, DC

 

 

This talk will describe how vanilla flavorings are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and how the federal standard of identity for vanilla flavorings is administered by FDA.  The relationship between FDA's general flavor labeling regulations and the vanilla and ice cream standards will be discussed.  Resources for the interpretation of the relevant regulations will be described.

 

John Hallagan opened his law firm in March 2000 after 20 years of service to the flavor, fragrance, color additive, and spice industries as an attorney and scientific consultant. He serves as General Counsel for The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) and The American Spice Trade Association (ASTA). Hallagan also serves as Senior Advisor to Verto Solutions (formerly The Roberts Group), an association management and scientific consulting firm. He served as Scientific Director for FEMA for nine years during the 1990s during which time the flavor industry initiated several major programs to expand the FEMA GRAS program and the activities of the FEMA Expert Panel, and to work towards the harmonized global regulation of flavors through a global open positive list of flavoring substances. He currently serves as Legal Advisor to the FEMA Expert Panel.