[Estimation of the intake of food additives--methods applied in the European Union].

Guidelines for estimation of food additives intake were prepared by Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) in 1989. During the period 1994, 1995 three specific directives have been adopted, each of them including an obligation for Member States to introduce systems to monitor the usage and consumption of food additives and to report their findings to the Commission. Recommendations of Commission's experts which should be taken into account for preparing the monitoring system by Member States are based on decision tree, which systematizes proceeding procedures. Above mentioned decision tree might be a tool for elimination of the food additive which intake does not pose a health hazard. ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) plays the essential role in the risk assessment of food additives intake. The food additives, which were not eliminated during the decision tree considerations require detailed revision of the conditions of their use. Poland, as a Candidate Country for EU, after the accession will also be obligated to introduce the system to monitor the usage and consumption of food additives and to report relevant report to the Commission.