3. Compositional Aspects

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3. Compositional Aspects

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Beers, RTDs, and Whisky
Taiwan

This section provides the compositional requirements for the food category and/or food products in scope and information on permitted nutrients, ingredients, and additives.

3.1 Composition Requirements

General Food

There are no composition requirements for General Food as standards of composition are defined per category of food in different Sanitation Standards [1].

Companies may also refer to the voluntary product standards (CNS standards) issued by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), if they are available. [2]

Category

Alcoholic drinks

Taiwan Ministry of Finance has issued the Hygiene Standards for Alcohol Products [3] which is enacted pursuant to the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act [4]. Article 2 of the Hygiene Standards for Alcohol Products prescribes the criteria forthe content of methyl alcohol in each liter of the various types of alcoholic beverages.

Product

Beer, RTDs, and Whisky

There is no compositional standard developed specifically for Beer, Ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages like Chuhai, and Whisky. Therefore, specific requirements such as flavor, alcohol content (except for whisky, see Section 2.1 of this Guidebook), tolerance limit for alcohol by volume, specific gravity, and for beers on wort concentration and dietary fiber content are not laid down.

Currently, Taiwan has only published a voluntary standard for Rice Spirits (CNS 14847) [5]. The following are the specifications in the standards:

Alcohol content: 20% (v/v)
Total acidity: < 0.5 g/l as acid
Free from impurities

3.2 Raw Material Requirements

General Food

The ingredients used must be recognized as safe for use as food. If the ingredients are not common fruits and vegetables, they should be listed in the approved food ingredient database [6].

Category

Alcoholic drinks

There is no specific guidance on the raw materials for alcoholic drinks. They should be safe and suitable for use to produce alcoholic beverages.

Product

Beer, RTDs, and Whisky

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) above.

3.3 Fortification

General Food

Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can be added to food products as long they conform to the requirements in the Standards for Specification, Scope, Application, and Limitation of Food Additives [7].

Category

Alcoholic drinks

There is no guidance on the addition of nutrients. Nutrients are normally added to food to improve the nutritional quality of the food. As alcoholic drinks are not regarded as ‘nutritious food’, it is not advisable to add these substances.

Product

Beer, RTDs, and Whisky

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) above.

3.4 Other Permitted Ingredients

General Food

Not defined.

Category

Alcoholic drinks

Not defined.

Product

Beer, RTDs, and Whisky

Not defined.

3.5 Permitted Additives

General Food

The use of Food Additives should comply with the Standards for Specification, Scope, Application, and Limitation of Food Additives [7]. It includes the list of authorized additives, their specifications, and their limitations of use.

Category

Alcoholic drinks

The Hygiene Standards for Alcohol Products [3] have provided limits for the use of food additives as follows:

a) Preservatives

The sorbic acid residue in each liter of alcohol products brewed from fermented fruits shall not exceed 0.2g.
The benzoic acid residue in each liter of alcohol products having an alcohol content of 18% or less shall not exceed 0.4g.
Each preservative residue in the same alcohol products as referred to in the preceding two items was divided by its limit standards, the sum total may not be over 1.
Other alcohol products for consumption purposes shall not add sorbic acid and benzoic acid. However, if it is proved that they were produced naturally during the process of manufacturing or existed naturally in the raw material or carried over by the raw material and the residue level is not over the limit provided in the first and second items, these are not subject to this restriction.

b) Other additives

The sulfur dioxide residue in each liter of alcohol products brewed from fermented fruits shall not exceed 0.4g.
The sulfur dioxide residue in every liter of beer and beverages brewed from grains shall not exceed 0.03g.
Other alcohol products for consumption purposes shall not contain any sulfur dioxide.

There are no other specific requirements for the use of food additives. Overall, the additives used must be proven safe for human consumption.

Product

Beer, RTDs, and Whisky

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) above.

3.6 Permitted Flavors and Colors

General Food

The use of flavoring and colors in General Food should comply with the Standards for Specification, Scope, Application, and Limitation of Food Additives [7] and the Sanitation Standard for Natural Edible Colorants [8].

According to the Taiwan FDA Handbook for Food Additives [9], the Taiwan FDA also accepts flavors that are approved according to international standards such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) or the United States, European Union, Japan, etc.

Category

Alcoholic drinks

The Hygiene Standards for Alcohol Products [3] has provided maximum residue limits for lutein when used as coloring at 10mg/liter.

There are no other specific requirements for the use of flavoring and other coloring. These additives must be proven safe for human consumption. The usage of additives in alcohol products shall not have the following:

Toxic or any other substances or matter harmful to human health.
Never been used on food or beverages and has not yet been proven to be unharmful to human health.

Product

Beer, RTDs, and Whisky

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) above.

3.7 Permitted Processing Aids

General Food

The use of Food Processing Aids in General Food should comply with the Standards for Specification, Scope, Application, and Limitation of Food Additives [7] and the Sanitation Standard for Processing Aids [10].

Category

Alcoholic drinks

There are no specific requirements. Refer to General Food above.

Product

Beer, RTDs, and Whisky

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) above.