The Use of Basic Methacrylate Copolymer (BMC) in Large-Scale Food Fortification: A Regulatory Overview

Basic Methacrylate Copolymer (BMC, E 1205) has been used for decades to coat medicines and food supplements. It could now help fortify staple foods such as bouillon, by shielding vitamin A from heat and humidity until it is released in the digestive tract. But is the regulatory framework ready for this new use?

This overview looks at how BMC is treated in international standards, in the EU and in West Africa, where fortified products are mainly aimed. It finds a strong safety record and no prohibitions in any jurisdiction reviewed. BMC is also exempt, as a food additive, from the EU’s 2023 restriction on intentionally added microplastics. The main obstacle is a gap rather than a barrier: the EU has not yet authorised BMC specifically as a micronutrient encapsulant. The report explains what clearer recognition could involve, including likely labelling requirements, and why it matters for manufacturers and fortification programmes.