draft food amendment regulations 2017 the agri-food and veterinary authority of singapore ava has completed a review of the food regulations and proposes the following amendments a to allow the use of the following new food additives and ingredients i. beet red ins 162 and spirulina extract ins 134 or cyanobacterial-phycocyanin c-pc extracted from spirulina platensis as permitted colouring matters in food under good manufacturing practice ii. beta-palmitin for use in infant formula at levels not exceeding 80 of the total fat content of infant formula iii. l-theanine a flavour enhancer for use in brewed tea soft drinks chocolate chocolate confectionery and sugar confectionery at levels not exceeding 1 000 ppm iv. sodium ferrous citrate a nutrient supplement for use in food as a source of iron v. 219 new enzymes for use in food under good manufacturing practice b to extend the use of the following existing food additives to additional food categories i. propionic acid and its sodium calcium and potassium salts ins 280 281 282 and 283 for use in the food categories hamburgers and similar products meat canned cured pickled salted or smoked whether cooked or uncooked and sausages or sausage meat at levels u to 2 500 ppm as propionic acid ii. sulphur dioxide and sulphites ins 220 - 228 539 will be allowed in herbs and spices at levels u to 150 ppm calculated as sulphur dioxide and in all types of flour at levels u to 200 ppm calculated as sulphur dioxide iii. quillaia extracts types i and ii ins 999 i and ii for use in alcoholic beverages u to a maximum level of 40 ppm calculated as saponins . the current maximum permitted level for quillaia extracts in soft drinks will be revised to 50 ppm calculated as saponins iv. steviol glycosides ins 960 for use in the following food categories food category maximum permitted level ppm dairy-based drinks flavoured and or fermented 200 sauces gravies and dressings and their mixes 350 except for soybean sauces where u to 165 ppm is permitted seasoning and condiments excluding sauces 30 confectionery including hard and soft candy nougats and marzipans 700 cocoa and chocolate products 550 soybean-based beverages 200 vegetable nut and seed spreads 330 v. polyglycerol polyricinoleate ins 476 for use as a permitted emulsifier stabiliser in food under good manufacturing practice c to allow the use of the following new health claim relating to barley beta-glucan for food complying with the prescribed criteria for use barley beta-glucans have been shown to lower reduce blood cholesterol. high blood cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. d to allow the net quantity of prepacked rice to be declared in grams or kilograms as appropriate e to establish a maximum limit of 0.2 ppm for inorganic arsenic in polished rice f to revise the maximum limit for lead in infant formula as consumed to 0.01 ppm g to delete the maximum residue limits mrls for 11 pesticides captafol carbophenothion chlordimeform and its metabolites crufomate dioxathion diphenyl etrimfos fenchlorphos fensulphothion formothion and mevinphos h to revise the specific gravity of sesame oil to 0.915 - 0.924 and the iodine value of sunflower seed oil to 118 - 141