# 2026-22866: FDA Removes Long-Abandoned Solvents From the Rules for Food Colors

2026-22866, Color Additive Petition From the International Association of Color Manufacturers; Request To Amend the Color Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Methylene Chloride, Trichloroethylene, and Ethylene Dichloride, is a Federal Register rule from Health and Human Services Department, Food and Drug Administration published 2026-11-10, effective 2027-01-11; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22866
- As of: 2026-11-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-22866
- Title: Color Additive Petition From the International Association of Color Manufacturers; Request To Amend the Color Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Methylene Chloride, Trichloroethylene, and Ethylene Dichloride
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Health and Human Services Department; Food and Drug Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 72410
- Published: 2026-11-10
- Effective: 2027-01-11
- Comments close: 2026-12-10
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-11

## In one line

FDA Removes Long-Abandoned Solvents From the Rules for Food Colors

## Summary

The FDA is updating rules to remove three solvents—methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, and ethylene dichloride—from approved uses in certain natural color extracts like annatto, paprika, and turmeric because these uses have been permanently stopped. This change affects color manufacturers and takes effect January 11, 2027. If anyone disagrees, they have until December 10, 2026, to speak up. No new costs are expected since these solvents aren’t used anymore.

## Abstract

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is partially granting a color additive petition submitted by the International Association of Color Manufacturers (IACM or petitioner), by amending our color additive regulations, on the basis of abandonment, to remove the authorized uses of methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, and ethylene dichloride from the list of authorized extraction solvents for annatto extract, paprika oleoresin, and turmeric oleoresin. The petitioner provided data demonstrating that these uses have been permanently abandoned. FDA is denying as moot the portion of the petition proposing that the color additive regulations be amended, on the basis of abandonment, to no longer authorize the use of methylene chloride as a diluent in color additive mixtures in inks for marking fruit and vegetables. This request is moot because the authorization for this use has been removed, on the basis of the Delaney Clause, in response to a separate petition.

## Effects PRIA read

- Three solvents removed from food color rules: benefit, low. FDA is removing methylene chloride (CAS 75-09-2), trichloroethylene (CAS 79-01-6), and ethylene dichloride (CAS 107-06-2) as authorized extraction solvents for annatto extract (21 CFR 73.30), paprika oleoresin (21 CFR 73.345), and turmeric oleoresin (21 CFR 73.615). The amendment is effective Janua…
- Methylene chloride removed for fruit/vegetable marking inks: cost, low. FDA states that the petition request to remove methylene chloride as a diluent in color additive mixtures for inks used to mark fruit and vegetables (21 CFR 73.1) is moot because that authorization has already been removed by a separate final order (on the basis of the Delaney Clause).

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## Sources
- [2026-22866 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/10/2026-22866/color-additive-petition-from-the-international-association-of-color-manufacturers-request-to-amend)
- [2026-22866 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-10/pdf/2026-22866.pdf)

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- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22866 (as of 2026-11-11).