What is Carnauba wax used for in food?

It is listed as a glazing agent — the role Canada, Codex and the US assign it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.

Where is Carnauba wax permitted?

Of the seven regulators this site reads, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the EU, Great Britain, South Korea, the US and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.

Is Carnauba wax vegan?

Yes. Carnauba wax is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.

Carnauba wax

Q: What is E 903?

E 903 is Carnauba wax. Carnauba wax is a hard plant wax used to glaze confectionery, coated sweets, fresh fruit and tablets.

E number E903INS 903CAS 8015-86-9

Listed as a glazing agent by Canada, Codex and the US.

Listed as glazing and surface-finishing agents (CA, US, Codex) · acidity regulators (US, Codex) · anticaking agents (US, Codex) · bulking agents (Codex) · antifoaming agents (CA) · carriers (Codex) · formulation aids (US) · lubricants and release agents (US) · processing aids (US)

Canada: Glazing agent — Health Canada, List of Permitted Glazing Agents (List 7)
United States: Surface-finishing agent — FDA, Substances Added to Food: CARNAUBA WAX (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (ARRUDA) MART.)
United States: Surface-finishing agents — 21 CFR 184.1978, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(30)
Codex Alimentarius: Glazing agent — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 903
United States: pH control agent — FDA, Substances Added to Food: CARNAUBA WAX (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (ARRUDA) MART.)
Codex Alimentarius: Acidity regulator — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 903
United States: Anticaking agent or free-flow agent — FDA, Substances Added to Food: CARNAUBA WAX (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (ARRUDA) MART.)
United States: Anticaking agents and free-flow agents — 21 CFR 184.1978, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(1)
Codex Alimentarius: Anticaking agent — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 903
Codex Alimentarius: Bulking agent — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 903
Canada: Antifoaming agent — Health Canada, List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use (List 8)
Codex Alimentarius: Carrier — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 903
United States: Formulation aid — FDA, Substances Added to Food: CARNAUBA WAX (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (ARRUDA) MART.)
United States: Formulation aids — 21 CFR 184.1978, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(14)
United States: Lubricant or release agent — FDA, Substances Added to Food: CARNAUBA WAX (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (ARRUDA) MART.)
United States: Lubricants and release agents — 21 CFR 184.1978, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(18)
United States: Processing aid — FDA, Substances Added to Food: CARNAUBA WAX (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (ARRUDA) MART.)

Carnauba wax is a hard plant wax used to glaze confectionery, coated sweets, fresh fruit and tablets.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Carnauba wax by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
Jurisdiction	Status	Scope and limits	Citation
Australia and New ZealandFood Standards Australia New Zealand	Permitted, with conditions	55 food categories no numerical limit (good manufacturing practice) Show every food category 0 Preparations of food additives — GMP 1.1.1 Liquid milk (including buttermilk) — GMPOnly UHT goats milk. 1.1.2 Liquid milk products and flavoured liquid milk — GMP 1.2.2 Fermented milk products and rennetted milk products — GMP 1.3 Condensed milk and evaporated milk — GMP 1.4.1 Cream, reduced cream and light cream — GMPOnly UHT creams and creams receiving equivalent or greater heat treatments. 1.4.2 Cream products (flavoured, whipped, thickened, sour cream etc) — GMP 1.5 Dried milk, milk powder, cream powder — GMP 1.6 Cheese and cheese products — GMP 10.2 Liquid egg products — GMP 10.3 Frozen egg products — GMP 10.4 Dried or heat coagulated egg products — GMP 11.1.1 Rainbow sugar — GMP 11.3.1 Dried honey — GMP 11.4 Tabletop sweeteners — GMP 12.1.2 Reduced sodium salt mixture — GMP 12.1.3 Salt substitute — GMP 12.5 Yeast and yeast products — GMP 12.6 Vegetable protein products — GMP 13.3 Formulated meal replacements and formulated supplementary foods — GMP 13.4 Formulated supplementary sports foods — GMP 13.5 Food for special medical purposes — GMP 14.1.1.2 Carbonated, mineralised and soda waters — GMP 14.1.2.1 Fruit and vegetable juices — GMPFor juice separated by other than mechanical means only. 14.1.2.2 Fruit and vegetable juice products — GMP 14.1.3 Water based flavoured drinks — GMP 14.1.4 Formulated Beverages — GMP 14.1.5 Coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, herbal infusions and similar products — GMP 14.2.3 Wine based drinks and reduced alcohol wines — GMP 14.2.4.1 Fruit wine products and vegetable wine products — GMP 14.2.5 Spirits and liqueurs — GMP 14.3 Alcoholic beverages not included in item 14.2 — GMP 2.1 Edible oils essentially free of water — GMP 2.2.1.2 Butter products — GMP 2.2.1.3 Margarine and similar products — GMP 2.2.2 Oil emulsions (<80% oil) — GMP 20 Foods not included in items 0 to 14 — GMP 3 Ice cream and edible ices — GMP 4.1.2 Surface treated fruits and vegetables — GMP 4.1.3 Fruits and vegetables that are peeled, cut, or both peeled and cut — GMP 4.3 Processed fruits and vegetables — GMP 5.1 Chocolate and cocoa products — GMP 5.2 Sugar confectionery — GMP 5.4 Icings and frostings — GMP 6.3 Processed cereal and meal products — GMP 6.4 Flour products (including noodles and pasta) — GMP 7 Breads and bakery products — GMP 8.2 Processed meat, poultry and game products in whole cuts or pieces — GMP 8.3 Processed comminuted meat, poultry and game products, other than products listed in item 8.3.2 — GMP 8.3.2 Sausage and sausage meat containing raw, unprocessed meat — GMP 8.4 Edible casings — GMP 8.5 Animal protein products — GMP 9.2 Processed fish and fish products — GMP 9.3 Semi preserved fish and fish products — GMP 9.4 Fully preserved fish including canned fish products — GMP	Food Standards Code, Schedule 15, S15—5and 54 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-17
CanadaHealth Canada	Permitted, with conditions	highest permitted level 4,000 mg/kg 2 permitted uses Show every permitted use In: Unstandardized confectionery. Purpose: Glazing agent. Limit: 4,000 ppm. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Glazing Agents (List 7), item C.2 In: Broth, except broth that is used in canned (naming the poultry). Purpose: Antifoaming agent. Limit: 6 ppm. Amendment notices: NOM/ADM-0081. — Health Canada, List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use (List 8), item C.14	Health Canadaand 1 further provisionretrieved 2026-10-17
European UnionEuropean Commission / EFSA	Permitted, with conditions	11 food categories highest permitted level 3,600 mg/kg Show every food category 10.2 processed eggs and egg products — 3,600 mg/kgML = 3600 mg/kg. only on the surface of unpeeled coloured boiled eggs Period of application: From 13 August 2012. 14.1.5.1 coffee coffee extracts — 200 mg/lML = 200 mg/l. only coffee beans, as glazing agent. 15.1 Potato- cereal- flour- or starch-based snacks — 200 mg/kgML = 200 mg/kg. as glazing agents only. 15.2 Processed nuts — 200 mg/kgML = 200 mg/kg. as glazing agents only. 17.1 food supplements supplied in a solid form excluding food supplements for infants and young children’, — 200 mg/kgML = 200 mg/kg. 4.1.1 entire fresh fruit and vegetables — 200 mg/kgML = 200 mg/kg. only for the surface treatment of citrus fruit, melons, apples, pears, peaches, pineapples, pomegranates, mangoes, avocados, papayas and cassavas and, as glazing agent, on nuts’. 5.1 Cocoa and chocolate products as covered by Directive 2000/36/EC — 500 mg/kgML = 500 mg/kg. as glazing agent only. 5.2 Other confectionery including breath freshening micro-sweets — 500 mg/kgML = 500 mg/kg. as glazing agent only. 5.3 chewing gum — 1,200 mg/kgML = 1200 mg/kg. as glazing agent only. Note 47: The maximum amount applies to all uses covered by this regulation, including the provisions set out in Annex III. 5.4 Decorations, coatings and fillings, except fruit-based fillings covered by category 4.2.4 — 500 mg/kgML = 500 mg/kg. as glazing agent only. 7.2 Fine bakery wares — 200 mg/kgML = 200 mg/kg. only as glazing agents only for small products of fine bakery wares coated with chocolate.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex IIand 10 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18
Great BritainFood Standards Agency / Food Standards Scotland	Permitted, with conditions	11 food categories highest permitted level 3,600 mg/kg or mg/l Show every food category 10.2 Processed eggs and egg products — 3,600 mg/kg or mg/lML = 3600. only on the surface of unpeeled coloured boiled eggs Period of application: From 13 August 2012. 14.1.5.1 Coffee, coffee extracts — 200 mg/kg or mg/lML = 200. only coffee beans, as glazing agent. 15.1 Potato-, cereal-, flour- or starch-based snacks — 200 mg/kg or mg/lML = 200. as glazing agents only. 15.2 Processed nuts — 200 mg/kg or mg/lML = 200. as glazing agents only. 17.1 Food supplements supplied in a solid form, excluding food supplements for infants and young children — 200 mg/kg or mg/lML = 200. 4.1.1 Entire fresh fruit and vegetables — 200 mg/kg or mg/lML = 200. only for the surface treatment of fruit: citrus fruit, melons, apples, pears, peaches, pineapples, pomegranates, mangoes, avocados and papayas and as glazing agent on nuts Period of application as regards pomegranates, mangoes, avocados and papayas: From 25 December 2012 . 5.1 Cocoa and chocolate products as covered by Directive 2000/36/EC — 500 mg/kg or mg/lML = 500. as glazing agent only. 5.2 Other confectionery including breath refreshening microsweets — 500 mg/kg or mg/lML = 500. as glazing agent only. 5.3 Chewing gum — 1,200 mg/kg or mg/lML = 1200. as glazing agent only. Note (47): The maximum amount applies to all uses covered by this regulation, including the provisions set out in Annex III. 5.4 Decorations, coatings and fillings, except fruit based fillings covered by category 4.2.4 — several limits(1) ML 500: as glazing agent only; (2) ML 200: as glazing agent only for small fine bakery wares, coated with chocolate. 7.2 Fine bakery wares — 200 mg/kg or mg/lML = 200. only as glazing agents only for small products of fine bakery wares coated with chocolate.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008and 10 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18
JapanConsumer Affairs Agency	No listing matchedThis site imports only Japan’s list of designated additives (Appended Table 1 to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act), matched by English name. Existing additives, natural flavouring agents and ordinary foods used as additives are permitted outside that list and are not imported, so an empty row does not show that Japan does not permit the substance.
South KoreaMinistry of Food and Drug Safety	Permitted, with conditions	Designated food additive: Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, Part III, 1. … Designated food additive: Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, Part III, 1. 일반식품첨가물 (general food additives), 카나우바왁스 (“Carnauba Wax”, the English the Code prints beside it). Main use (주용도) of 카나우바왁스: 유화제, 증점제, 안정제, 피막제. Standard for use (사용기준) of 카나우바왁스: (1) [to be used under the general standard for use in II. 2. 1), the minimum amount that achieves the technical effect, with no limit set for this additive in particular] “II. 2. 1)의 규정에 따라 사용하여야 한다.” The Korean is the standard as published. There is no official English translation of the current Code (the English version on MFDS’s website is the 2020 edition and has no legal effect); the English in square brackets is this site’s description of what each sentence does, not a translation of the foods or the levels. Compositional specifications (Part IV) are not imported, nor are the general standards in Part II, which apply to every additive.	Standards and Specifications for Food Additives (식품첨가물의 기준 및 규격), MFDS Notification, Part III (Standards for use, by item)retrieved 2026-10-18
United StatesFood and Drug Administration	Permitted		21 CFR 184.1978retrieved 2026-10-17
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFA	Permitted, with conditions	13 food categories highest permitted level 5,000 mg/kg Show every food category and its notes 04.1.1.2 Surface-treated fresh fruit — 400 mg/kg 04.1.2 Processed fruit — 400 mg/kg Note XS160 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Mango Chutney (CODEX STAN 160-1987). Note XS314R Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Date Paste (CODEX STAN 314R-2013). 04.2.1.2 Surface-treated fresh vegetables, (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera), seaweeds and nuts and seeds — 400 mg/kg Note 79 For use on nuts only. 05.1.4 Cocoa and chocolate products — 5,000 mg/kg Note 3 For use in surface treatment only. Note XS87 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Chocolate and Chocolate Products (CODEX STAN 87-1981). 05.1.5 Imitation chocolate, chocolate substitute products — 5,000 mg/kg Note 3 For use in surface treatment only. 05.2 Confectionery including hard and soft candy, nougats, etc. other than food categories 05.1, 05.3, and 05.4 — 5,000 mg/kg Note 3 For use in surface treatment only. Note XS309R Excluding products conforming to the Codex Regional Standard for Halawa Tehenia (CODEX STAN 309R-211). 05.3 Chewing gum — 1,200 mg/kg Note 3 For use in surface treatment only. 05.4 Decorations (e.g. for fine bakery wares), toppings (non-fruit), and sweet sauces — 4,000 mg/kg 07.0 Bakery wares — GMP Note 3 For use in surface treatment only. 13.6 Food supplements — 5,000 mg/kg Note 3 For use in surface treatment only. 14.1.4 Water-based flavoured drinks, including "sport," “energy,” or "electrolyte" drinks and particulated drinks — 200 mg/kg Note 131 For use as a flavour carrier only. 14.1.5 Coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, herbal infusions, and other hot cereal and grain beverages, excluding cocoa — 200 mg/kg Note 108 For use on coffee beans only. 15.0 Ready-to-eat savouries — 200 mg/kg Note 3 For use in surface treatment only.	CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 903and 12 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

How much is permitted

A listing usually limits the quantity as well as the food. Only one of the forms that takes is a figure: quantum satis and good manufacturing practice permit the amount the technological effect requires and no more, which is a limit rather than the absence of one. Figures below are the range across every food category this page is listed in, and categories differ between regulators — see how much is permitted.

Australia and New Zealand	—	55 GMP
Canada	6 mg/kg – 4,000 mg/kg	2 numeric limit
European Union	200 mg/kg – 3,600 mg/kg	11 numeric limit
Great Britain	200 mg/kg – 3,600 mg/kg	10 numeric limit, 1 several limits
South Korea	—	1 no quantity stated
United States	—	1 no quantity stated
Codex Alimentarius	200 mg/kg – 5,000 mg/kg	12 numeric limit, 1 GMP

What it is made from

Collected from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm, Copernicia prunifera, which secretes it to reduce water loss. The leaves are dried and the wax beaten off, so the tree is not felled.

Vegan
Vegetarian

Compare other additives on the dietary indexes.

CAS registry number: 8015-86-9

The two specifications, compared

The European Union sets identity and purity by regulation; JECFA publishes its own through FAO, advisory until a country adopts it. Both documents are below in full. These are the parameters each puts a number on.

Parameter	European Union	JECFA
Sulphated ash	no more than 0.25 %	no more than 0.25 %
Lead	no more than 2 mg/kg	no more than 2 mg/kg
Arsenic	no more than 3 mg/kg	—
Mercury	no more than 1 mg/kg	—

The two documents state the same figures for every parameter compared here.

How the EU defines it

The legal specification an additive must meet to be sold as this E number in the EU — what it is, how it may be made, and the purity it must reach. From Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.

E 903 Carnauba wax

Carnauba wax is a purified wax obtained from the leaf buds and leaves of the Brazilian Mart wax palm, Copernicia cerifera

Assay, identification and purity criteria

Description and assay

Einecs: 232-399-4
Description: Light brown to pale yellow powder or flakes or hard and brittle solid with a resinous fracture

Identification

Specific gravity: About 0,997
Melting range: Between 82 °C and 86 °C
Solubility: Insoluble in water, partly soluble in boiling ethanol, soluble in chloroform and diethyl ether

Purity criteria

Sulphated ash: Not more than 0,25 %
Acid value: Not less than 2 and not more than 7
Ester value: Not less than 71 and not more than 88
Unsaponifiable matter: Not less than 50 % and not more than 55 %
Arsenic: Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead: Not more than 2 mg/kg
Mercury: Not more than 1 mg/kg

Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, Annex, E 903

How JECFA defines it

The international specification for identity and purity, prepared by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and published by FAO. It is a different document from any above, written by a different body and revised on its own cycle; it is advisory, and a country adopts it or does not.

INS 903 Carnauba Wax

The refined wax obtained from the fronds of the Brazilian tropical palm tree Copernicia cerifera (Arruda) Mart. [syn. C. purnifera (Muell.)]; a complex mixture of several chemical compounds, predominantly esters, e.g., - aliphatic esters (straight-chain acids with even-numbered carbon chains from C 24 to C 28 and straight-chain alcohols with even-numbered carbon chains from C 30 to C 34 ), - alpha-hydroxy esters (straight-chain hydroxy acids with even-numbered carbon chains from C 22 to C 28 , straight-chain acids with even-numbered carbon chains from C 24 to C 28 , straight-chain monohydric alcohols with even-numbered carbon chains from C 24 to C 34 and dihydric alcohols with even-numbered carbon chains from C 24 to C 34 ) - cinnamic aliphatic diesters (p-methoxycinnamic acid and dihydric alcohols with even-numbered carbon chains from C 24 to C 34 ) It also contains free acids (straight-chain acids with even-numbered carbon chains from C 24 to C 28 ), free alcohols (straight-chain alcohols with even-numbered carbon chains from C 30 to C 34 ), hydrocarbons (straight-chain odd-numbered carbon chains from C 27 to C 31 ) and resins.

Synonyms: INS No. 903

Assay, identification and purity criteria

Description and assay

Specification history: Prepared at the 51st JECFA (1998), published in FNP 52 Add 6 (1998) superseding specifications prepared at the 44th JECFA (1995), published in FNP 52 Add 3 (1995). ADI 0-7 mg/kg bw, established at the 39th JECFA in 1992.
C.A.S. number: 8015-86-9
DESCRIPTION: A pale yellow to light brown, hard and brittle solid, having a clean fracture
FUNCTIONAL USES: Glazing agent, bulking agent, acidity regulator, carrier

Identification

Solubility (Vol. 4): Insoluble in water; partially soluble in boiling ethanol; soluble in ether
Melting range (Vol. 4): 80 - 86º

Purity criteria

Acid value (Vol. 4): Between 2 and 7
Saponification value (Vol. 4): Between 78 and 95
Ester value: Between 71 and 93 Subtract the Acid value from the Saponification value to obtain the Ester value.
Sulfated ash (Vol. 4): Not more than 0.25 % w/w Heat a 2-g sample in a tared, open porcelain or platinum dish over an open flame. It volatilizes without emitting an acrid odour. Ignite as described in procedure for Ash (sulfated ash) Method I.
Unsaponifiable matter: Between 50 % and 55 % See description under TESTS
Lead (Vol. 4): Not more than 2 mg/kg Prepare a sample solution as directed for organic compounds in the Limit Test and determine by atomic absorption spectroscopy , Volume 4
Test: Unsaponifiable matter: Weigh accurately about 5 g of the sample into a 250-ml flask, add a solution of 2 g of potassium hydroxide in 40 ml ethanol, and boil gently under reflux for 1 h or until saponification is complete. Transfer the content of the flask to a glass-stoppered extraction cylinder (approximately 30 cm in length, 3.5 cm in diameter and graduated at 40, 80 and 130 ml).Wash the flask with sufficient alcohol to achieve a volume of 40 ml in the cylinder, and complete the transfer with warm and then cold water until the total volume is 80 ml. Finally wash the flask with a few ml of petroleum ether, add the washings to the cylinder, cool the contents of the cylinder to room temperature and add 50 ml of petroleum ether. Insert the stopper and shake the cylinder vigorously for at least 1 min, and allow both layers to become clear. Siphon the upper ether layer as completely as possible without removing any of the lower layer, collecting the ether fraction in a 500-ml separator. Repeat extraction and siphoning at least six times with 50-ml portions of petroleum ether, shaking vigorously each time. Wash the combined extracts, with vigorous shaking, with 25-ml portions of 10% ethanol until the wash water is neutral to phenolphthalein, and discard the washings. Transfer the ether extract to a tared beaker and rinse the separator with 10-ml of ether, adding the rinsings to the beaker. Evaporate the ether at a steam bath just to dryness, and dry the residue to constant weight, preferably at 75º to 80º under vacuum of not more than 200 mm of Hg, or at 100º for 30 min. Cool in a desiccator and weigh to obtain weight of unsaponifiable matter. Dissolve the residue in 50 ml of warm neutral ethanol and titrate with 0.02N sodium hydroxide using phenolphthalein as indicator. Each ml of 0.02N sodium hydroxide is equivalent to 5.659 mg of fatty acids, calculated as oleic acid. Subtract the calculated weight of fatty acids from the weight of the residue to obtain the corrected weight of unsaponifiable matter in the sample.

FAO JECFA Monograph 1 (2006)

Authorised in other additives, enzymes, flavourings and nutrients

These authorisations are not for use in food. They let this substance be used inside another additive, a food enzyme, a flavouring or a nutrient preparation — often as a carrier — and it reaches food only as part of that product. Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

Part	May be used in	Maximum level	Citation
Annex III, Part 2: Food additives other than carriers in food additives	As stabiliser in preparations of sweeteners and/or acids intended to be used in chewing gumNote (1): Except enzymes authorised as food additives.	130 000 mg/kg in the preparation, 1 200 mg/kg in final product from all sources	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex III, Part 2

Every name it appears under

27 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

E number

E903

INS number

CAS registry number

8015-86-9

As it appears in regulation

Carnauba wax

Other names

Carnauba wax
E 903

Hazard reference values

EFSA and JECFA have both set an acceptable daily intake for Carnauba wax, and they agree: 7 mg/kg bw. An acceptable daily intake is a reference value set by a committee, not a threshold above which harm begins. See where the two committees differ.

Values set by assessing bodies. A body that has not set a value is not listed here.
Type	Value	Population	Assessed by	Opinion
ADI	7 mg/kg bw/day	—	JECFA	1992
ADI	7 mg/kg bw	consumers	EFSA	not identified in the dataset

Evidence and how bodies read it

What assessing bodies concluded

Each conclusion is paraphrased in the body's own framing, from the published opinion linked beneath it. Where bodies differ, both stand; this site does not adjudicate between them or add a view of its own.

EFSA 2012
The ANS Panel found no concern for genotoxicity with carnauba wax (E 903) but did not establish an ADI because long-term toxicity data were lacking. On the basis of sufficient margins of safety, it concluded that use as a food additive at the currently authorised uses would not be of safety concern.
Source document

Common questions

Assembled from what is above, in the words the questions are usually asked in. Each answer is the same statement the relevant section makes, with the same citations behind it.

What is E 903?: E 903 is Carnauba wax. Carnauba wax is a hard plant wax used to glaze confectionery, coated sweets, fresh fruit and tablets.
What is Carnauba wax used for in food?: It is listed as a glazing agent — the role Canada, Codex and the US assign it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.
Where is Carnauba wax permitted?: Of the seven regulators this site reads, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the EU, Great Britain, South Korea, the US and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.
Is Carnauba wax vegan?: Yes. Carnauba wax is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.

Sources for this page

anz retrieved 2026-10-17
ca retrieved 2026-10-17
eu retrieved 2026-10-18
gb retrieved 2026-10-18
kr retrieved 2026-10-18
ecfr retrieved 2026-10-17
gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07
euspecs retrieved 2026-10-18
jecfaspecs retrieved 2026-09-23

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

Machine-readable: a JSON record of this additive is given on request —how to ask for access.

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