Trisodium phosphate is not completely banned in Europe, but there are restrictions on its use in certain areas.
In Europe, trisodium phosphate in food is mainly used as the additive, and it is also used as clean agents.
In terms of food additives, trisodium phosphate is widely used in food processing of beverages, canned food, frozen food, etc. As an acidity regulator, it can regulate the pH of food, improve the taste and stability, and extend the shelf life. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) consider trisodium phosphate to be a safe food additive, but its use should be within reasonable limits.
However, in the area of detergents, EU member states support a wide-ranging ban on phosphate detergents. Specifically, the European Commission has proposed a ban on the use of phosphates in laundry detergents from January 1, 2013, and plans to extend the ban from 2015 to automatic dishwashing detergents. In addition, Sweden is restricting the use of phosphates in detergents from July 1, 2023 onwards.
In 2024, Trisodium phosphate has not been completely banned as a detergent in Europe, but restrictions on its use are being tightened in the EU. So, there are less and less trisodium phosphate cleaner is using in Europe.
The EU Parliament adopted a proposal to amend the Detergents Regulation on February 27, 2024, which mainly strengthens the limits and regulation of phosphorus content in products such as household laundry detergents and detergents for automatic dishwashers. The proposal specifically emphasizes the importance of avoiding the use of animals in experiments and prohibits the marketing of any detergents, surfactants and their ingredients that have been tested on animals. In addition, relevant animal testing within the EU will also be prohibited unless it is demonstrated that animal testing is irreplaceable and absolutely necessary.
Although the exact implementation date has not yet been determined, the European Commission has proposed a draft regulation that would prohibit the sale and use of phosphate detergent products on the EU market and limit the amount of phosphates in other detergents. These measures are aimed at reducing environmental pollution and protecting the ecological environment.
In summary, trisodium phosphate is mainly used as a food additive in Europe and is considered safe, but there are restrictions and bans on its use in detergents.
