November 14/Brussels/Press Release (Cargill) -- The International Stevia Council has applauded the final approval of the European Commission's Regulation to authorize the use of steviol glycosides as a non-caloric sweetener in the European market.
Maria Teresa Scardigli, the council's executive director, said, "The final hurdle in the regulatory process for steviol glycosides -- the scrutiny of the regulation by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers -- has been cleared." The regulation has been formally adopted on 11 November and will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal, which occurred on 12 November.