MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR

FOOD GAS APPLICATIONS

IGC Doc 126/11/E

Revision of Doc 126/06

EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL GASES ASSOCIATION AISBL

AVENUE DES ARTS 3-5  B – 1210 BRUSSELS

Tel : +32 2 217 70 98  Fax : +32 2 219 85 14
E-mail : [email protected]  Internet : www.eiga.eu
 IGC Doc 126/11

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS
FOR FOOD GAS APPLICATIONS

PREPARED BY :

Philippe Girardon AIR LIQUIDE

Christof Gloger BUSE GASTEK

Daniel Gonzalez PRAXAIR ESPAÑA

James Hennequin MESSER GROUP

Klaus Krinninger IGV

Lorenzo de Lorenzi SOL

Derrick Norvill LINDE

Stefan Speelmans ACP

Colin Trundley YARA

Andy Webb EIGA

Peter Wilyman AIR PRODUCTS

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EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL GASES ASSOCIATION AISBL

Avenue des Arts 3-5 B 1210 Brussels Tel +32 2 217 70 98 Fax +32 2 219 85 14
E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.eiga.eu
IGC DOC 126/11

Table of Contents
1.  Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 

2.  Scope ............................................................................................................................................... 1 

3.  Definitions ........................................................................................................................................ 1 

4.  Application of food gases ................................................................................................................. 1 

4.1  Food additives .......................................................................................................................... 1 
4.2  Food processing aids ............................................................................................................... 1 
4.3  Food ingredients ....................................................................................................................... 1 
5.  Specifications ................................................................................................................................... 1 

6.  References ....................................................................................................................................... 2 

6.1  Food additives legislation ......................................................................................................... 2 
6.2  JECFA ...................................................................................................................................... 2 
6.3  European Pharmacopoeia ........................................................................................................ 2 
6.4  CGA Compressed Gas Association ....................................................................................... 2 
6.5  EIGA European Industrial Gases Association ........................................................................ 2 
Appendix 1 - Summary of Current Gases Specifications in EU Legislation, JECFA and European
Pharmacopoeia ....................................................................................................................................... 3 
IGC DOC 126/11

1. Introduction

Food gases are used for consumption (e.g. carbonation of beverages), packaging (e.g. bread, meat
etc.), storage and ripening (e.g. controlled atmospheres for fruit and vegetables) and processing
(cooling, freezing etc.).

The minimum specifications for food gases in JECFA1, European Union (EU) legislation and
European Pharmacopeia are listed and the document summarizes these standards (as applicable at
the date of publication).

2. Scope

Specifications of all gases approved for use as food additives and, or used in other food and
pharmaceutical processing applications.

3. Definitions

Assay – Purity of the gas

Component – Impurity - residual ingredient in the main product

E xxx – E - number for the product of the European Food Additive Regulations

4. Application of food gases

The applications for gases in the food and beverage sectors fall into one of the three following
categories:

4.1 Food additives

For gases to be used as a food additive, for example as a propellant or as a packaging gas, they shall
be approved under EU law and are given E Numbers (for example E941 for nitrogen). The EU also
sets minimum purity criteria for gases when used as a food additive. In addition to the purity criteria
set down under EU Food Additive regulations, minimum specifications for gases are also published by
JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) and, for medicinal applications, in the
European Pharmacopoeia.

4.2 Food processing aids

Gases are processing aids when used during the processing of a food, for example liquid nitrogen for
freezing or carbon dioxide for freezing and chilling, but they are not themselves consumed as part of
the food. In this case the only legal requirement is that the gas should not leave residues in the
product that would present a risk to health.
Note: No purity criteria are set under EU law for use of gases as a processing aid. However National legislation may require a
purity criteria alignment with those applied to food additives.

4.3 Food ingredients

A gas is described as an ingredient when it is used in the preparation of a food and is still present in
the final product, even in an altered form, for example in the carbonation of beverages. No specific
purity criteria are set under EU law for use of gases as an ingredient although any food additive
criteria set for the gas could be relevant together with general food safety and hygiene legislation.

5. Specifications
See Appendix 1.

1
See 6.2 for explanation of “JECFA”

1
IGC DOC 126/11

6. References

6.1 Food additives legislation

European Regulation 1333/2008 on Food Additives

European Directive 2008/84/EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other
than colours and sweeteners

6.2 JECFA

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

FAO - Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations

WHO - World Health Organisation

6.3 European Pharmacopoeia

European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare

Council of Europe

7 allée Kastner, CS 30026 F-67081 Strasbourg, France

6.4 CGA Compressed Gas Association

G-4.3 Commodity Specification for Oxygen

G-5.3 Commodity Specification for Hydrogen

G-6.2 Commodity Specification for Carbon Dioxide

G-8.2 Commodity Specification for Nitrous Oxide

G-9.1 Commodity Specification for Helium

G-10.1 Commodity Specification for Nitrogen

G-11.1 Commodity Specification for Argon

6.5 EIGA European Industrial Gases Association

Document 70 Carbon Dioxide Source Certification, Quality Standards and Verification

2
 IGC DOC 126/11

Appendix 1 - Summary of Current Gases Specifications in EU Legislation, JECFA and

European Pharmacopoeia

Component Standard CO2 N2 O2 Ar He N 2O n-/iso-Butane Propane Hydrogen SO2

Impurity E 290 E 941 E 948 E 938 E 939 E 942 E 943 a/b E 944 E 949 E 220
Assay (v/v) EC >99% >99% >99% >99% >99% >99% >96%/>94% >95% >99,9% >99 %
Ph. Eur. >99,5% >99,5% >99,5% >98%
JECFA >99% >99% >99% >99% >99% >97% >99,9 %
Odour EC
Ph. Eur.
JECFA Free free free
Moisture EC <0,05% <0,05% <0,05% <0,05% <0,05% <50vppm <50vppm <50vppm <0,05%
Ph. Eur. <67 vppm <67 vppm <67 vppm <67 vppm
JECFA <52 vppm <0,05%
CO2 EC
Ph. Eur. <300 vppm <300 vppm
JECFA <300 vppm
CO EC <10 vppm <10 vppm <30 vppm
Ph. Eur. <5 vppm <5 vppm <5 vppm <5 vppm
JECFA <10 vppm <10 vppm <10 vppm <10 vppm <10 vppm
NO/NO2 EC <10 vppm <10 vppm
Ph. Eur. <2 vppm <2 vppm
JECFA <5 vppm
Total EC <100 vppm <100 vppm <100 vppm <100 vppm see * see **
Hydrocarbon Ph. Eur.
JECFA <50vppm
Residual EC < 1 % (O2) <0.07%
< 50 vppm
Gases Ph. Eur. (O2)
(O2, N2, H2) JECFA <1%
Sulphur EC
Ph. Eur. <1 vppm
JECFA
Oil EC <5mg/kg
Ph. Eur.
JECFA <10 ppmw
Acidity & EC pass test
Red. Subst. Ph. Eur.
JECFA pass test
Halogens EC
& H 2S Ph. Eur.
JECFA <5 vppm
Arsine & EC
Phosphate Ph. Eur.
JECFA
Other comp. EC see***
& Heavy Ph. Eur.
metals JECFA see****

3
 IGC DOC 126/11

* Methane < 0,15%, other HC < 5,1%. For E943a the max.
limit of HC are: C2H6 < 0,5%; C3H8<1,5%; i-C4H10<3%,
1.3-C4H6<0,1%

** Methane < 0,15%, other HC < 6,6%. For E943b the max.
limit of HC are: C2H6 < 0,5%; C3H8<2,0%; i-C4H10<4%,
1.3-C4H6<0,1%

*** EC Directive 2008/84 : Non volatile residue <0.001 %,

Sulphur trioxide < 0,1 %, Selenium < 10 mg/kg,
Arsenic <3mg/kg, Lead <5mg/kg, Mercury <1mg/kg,
Heavy metals (as Pb) <10 mg/kg

**** JECFA (1998) : Non volatile residue <0,05%,

Selenium <20 mg/kg, Lead <5mg/kg ,
Other gases not present in air : No trace