FSA & CAFRE launch vital webinar to support Food Businesses ahead of EU Additive Regulation deadline

Date published: 14 October 2025

In response to sweeping changes in European food additive regulations, the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) have launched a new webinar resource aimed at helping food businesses adapt to the revised limits on nitrates and nitrites in processed foods.

The initiative comes as part of efforts to support industry compliance with Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2023/2108, which was published in October 2023 and came into force in April 2024. The regulation lowers the permitted levels of nitrites and nitrates used as preservatives in processed meats, fish, and cheese products.

Key Deadlines for Compliance

To ease the transition, the European Commission introduced phased deadlines:

• Processed meat and fish: Transitional period ends 9 October 2025
• Certain cheese products: Transitional periods end 9 October 2026 and 9 October 2027, depending on the product category.

These changes aim to reduce consumer exposure to nitrosamines; compounds formed from nitrites and nitrates.

Webinar: A Practical Guide for Businesses

The newly launched webinar, developed by FSA NI’s Food Standards, Safety and Regulatory Compliance team in collaboration with Food Technologists at Loughry Campus, CAFRE, provides essential guidance for food producers. It covers:

• Key legal changes
• Transition dates
• Technical considerations
• Support available

Businesses are encouraged to watch the webinar available on the Food Standards Agency or CAFREtv YouTube channels and take the steps to ensure their products meet the new legal requirements.

Why It Matters

These regulatory changes represent a significant shift in EU food safety policy. While nitrites and nitrates have long played a role in preserving food and preventing bacterial growth, especially Clostridium botulinum, their use is now being more tightly controlled to protect public health.

The FSA NI and CAFRE’s joint effort reflect a commitment to supporting the food industry through this transition, ensuring that businesses remain compliant while continuing to deliver safe, high-quality products to consumers.