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Regulation

The deadlines, rules and pledges behind synthetic dye reformulation. Every row shows its source.

Last verified: October 31, 2026

Federal actions

FD&C Red No. 3 revoked in food and ingested drugs

Final
Date
Food: Jan 15, 2027.Ingested drugs: Jan 18, 2028.
What it says
FDA revoked the authorization on January 15, 2025. A stay triggered by objections was lifted on August 5, 2026, and FDA confirmed both dates unchanged.
What it means for you
Reformulate Red 3 before January 15, 2027. The audit's swap options are beet and anthocyanins.
Source
FDA, FD&C Red No. 3 (stay lifted Aug 5, 2026, 91 FR 50475)

Phase-out of six petroleum-based dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3

Voluntary
Date
Target: end of 2027.The April 22, 2025 announcement said end of 2026.
What it says
FDA and HHS announced the plan on April 22, 2025. FDA's current tracker states the end-of-2027 target. No rulemaking has been started, and the dyes remain legal federally.
What it means for you
There is no federal ban on these six dyes, but the pledges in the Brand commitments tab put most large brands on a 2026 to 2027 clock.
Source
FDA, Tracking Food Industry Pledges (current as of Oct 16, 2026)

Orange B listing revoked

In effect
Date
Effective Sept 8, 2026
What it says
Final order published July 23, 2026. Revoked because the color is no longer used, not for safety: last certified in 1978. It was listed only for casings of frankfurters and sausages (21 CFR 74.250).
What it means for you
No reformulation impact for most brands.
Source
Federal Register, July 23, 2026

Citrus Red No. 2 proposed for revocation

Proposed
Date
Comments closed Aug 24, 2026.No final order as of Sept 15, 2026.
What it says
Listed only for the skins of mature oranges (21 CFR 74.302). Proposed on the same not-in-use basis as Orange B: last certified in 2020.
What it means for you
No reformulation impact for most brands.
Source
Regbase state and federal tracker (updated Oct 21, 2026)

“No artificial colors” claim policy change

In effect
Date
Announced Feb 5, 2026
What it says
FDA said it will not take enforcement action against “no artificial colors” claims on foods that contain no FD&C certified colors, even if they use natural-source colors. FDA describes this as enforcement discretion.
What it means for you
Brands that switch to natural colors can make the claim.
Source
FDA, Color Additives

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) revoked

In effect
Date
Compliance date Aug 2, 2025
What it says
FDA revoked the authorization for BVO in food. The compliance date has passed.
What it means for you
Beverage formulations must be BVO-free.
Source
TTB bulletin on FDA's BVO and Red No. 3 revocations

Mandatory GRAS notification proposed

Proposed
Date
Proposed Aug 11, 2026.Comments due Dec 9, 2026.
What it says
FDA's proposed rule would make notifying FDA of GRAS conclusions mandatory. It contains no provision overriding state laws.
What it means for you
Watch it if your formulation relies on a self-affirmed GRAS ingredient.
Source
Regbase GRAS reform tracker
InfoBrand rows come from FDA's industry pledge tracker (current as of October 16, 2026). Federal and state rows come from agency and legislative documents, cross-checked against Regbase's state tracker (updated October 21, 2026). This page summarizes public information and is not legal advice. Check the linked source before relying on any date.
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