Laws and regulations around the world
A lot of studies have been made on Stevia in order to measure and evaluate her impact on the human body and on several diseases, such as diabete or metabolic syndrom. These studies have been made by Food and Health department in a lot od different states in the world, but also by companies.
These regulations are differents in every countries, even if, since few years, we can note a general trend to allow Stevia as sweeteners in most of them.
In Asia, South America and Oceania.
Widely uses in Japan, around Asia and South America sine 1970, Stevia has been allowed in Autralia and New Zealand in 2008. We can find this natural sweeteners in a lot of products such as soy sauce, sodas, gums, tortillas and rice cakes.
You will find below some useful links about stevia regulations in this area:
FSANZ - Food Standard Australia and New Zealand
Ministery of Health, Labour and Welfare - Japan
SFDA China - State Food & Drug Administration
In Europe
In Europe, EFSA ( European Food Safety Authority) has expressed a favorable opinion about the use af Rebausiode A as food additive in April 2010. Since this year, products containing Stevia are more and more often find on the market.
You will find below some useful linkks about Stevia regulations in this area:
EFSA evaluates the safety of steviol glycosides (April 2010)
Scientific Opinion on the safety of steviol glycosides for the proposed uses as a food additive (April 2010)
EFSA revises assessment of consumer exposure to steviol glycosides (January 2011)
In USA and Canada
In USA, the FDA has approved the use of Stevia as sweetener in 2009...
Has Stevia been approved by FDA to be use as a sweetener?
USDA - United State Department of Agricultur/Foods & Nutrition
If you need more specific advices about Stevia regulations, join the WSO.
You will find more information about membership just here.