21 CFR Part 81 · General Specifications and General Restrictions for Provisional Color Additives for Use in Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics

21 CFR 81.30

Cancellation of certificates

21 CFR 81.30 is the regulation titled “Cancellation of certificates” in 21 CFR Part 81, General Specifications and General Restrictions for Provisional Color Additives for Use in Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics. Since 2021, 3 FDA warning letters have cited it.

Letters citing it
3 since 2021
Jan 1 to Oct 30, 2026
3 against 0 on the same dates in 2025
Most often cited with
21 CFR 211.22, in 2 letters
Closed out
0% of these letters have a published close-out
See the 3 letters citing 21 CFR 81.30 →

Letters citing it, by year issued

All are drug letters. 2026 runs to Oct 30, 2026. Pick a year to see its letters.

  1. 02021
  2. 02022
  3. 02023
  4. 02024
  5. 02025
  6. 32026

What FDA writes when it cites it

The finding headings that cite 21 CFR 81.30 most often, as written in the letters.

  • 1 letterBased on our review of drug product labels, the “(b)(4)” contains the color additive “CI 16185” (also known as FD&C Red No. 2 or Amaranth). In 1976, FDA cancelled the certification and delisted FD&C Red No. 2 because it…
  • 1 letteryour “XUEYI SKIN CARE” sunscreen drug product contains the cancelled color additive CI 11680 (also known as Ext. D&C Yellow No. 5***1***)

The regulation

Read the text of 21 CFR 81.30 (eCFR, as of Sep 1, 2026)

(a) Certificates issued heretofore for colors being removed from the provisional list (§ 81.10(a)) are cancelled and of no effect after December 1, 1960, and use of such color additives in drugs or cosmetics after that date will result in adulteration.

(b)(1) Certificates issued heretofore for the color additive designated FD&C Red No. 1 are cancelled as of the date of the publication of this Order, and use of this color additive in the manufacture of foods, drugs, or cosmetics after that date will result in adulteration.

(2) The Commissioner finds that no action needs to be taken to remove foods, drugs, and cosmetics containing this color additive from the market on the basis of the scientific evidence before him, taking into account that the additive is not an acute toxic substance and that it is only used in small amounts in foods, drugs, and cosmetics.

(c) Certificates issued for FD&C Red No. 4 and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect after September 23, 1976 insofar as food, ingested drugs, and ingested cosmetics are concerned, and use of this color additive in the manufacture of food, ingested drugs, and ingested cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration. The certificates shall continue in effect for the use of FD&C Red No. 4 in externally applied drugs and cosmetics. The Commissioner finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before him that no action has to be taken to remove from the market food, ingested drugs and ingested cosmetics containing the color additive.

(d) Certificates issued for the following color additives and all mixtures containing these color additives are canceled and have no effect after October 4, 1966, and use of such color additives in the manufacture of foods, drugs, or cosmetics after that date will result in adulteration:

(e) Certificates issued for the following color additives and all mixtures containing these color additives are canceled and have no effect after July 1, 1968, and use of such color additives in the manufacture of drugs or cosmetics after that date will result in adulteration:

(f) Certificates issued for D&C Yellow No. 11 and all mixtures containing this color additive are canceled and have no effect after April 30, 1968, insofar as ingested use is concerned. Use of this color additive in the manufacture of ingested drugs or cosmetics subject to ingestion after that date will result in adulteration.

(g) Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 17, D&C Red No. 31, D&C Red No. 34, D&C Orange No. 4, and D&C Violet No. 2, and all mixtures containing these color additives, are canceled and have no effect after December 31, 1968, insofar as ingested use is concerned. Use of these color additives in the manufacture of ingested drugs or cosmetics subject to ingestion after that date will result in adulteration.

(h)(1) Certificates issued for FD&C Violet No. 1 and all mixtures containing this color additive are canceled and have no effect after April 10, 1973, and use of such color additive in the manufacture of foods, drugs, or cosmetics after that date will result in adulteration.

(2) The Commissioner finds that no action needs to be taken to remove foods, drugs, and cosmetics containing this color additive from the market on the basis of the scientific evidence before him.

(i) Certificates issued prior to July 1, 1968, for D&C Brown No. 1 and Ext. D&C Violet No. 2 and all mixtures containing these colors are canceled and have no effect. This cancellation does not apply to certificates issued after March 15, 1973, for D&C Brown No. 1 and Ext. D&C Violet No. 2, which are provisionally listed in § 81.1(b) and (c) respectively for coloring externally applied cosmetics.

(j)(1) Certificates issued for FD&C Red No. 2 and all mixtures containing this color additive are canceled and have no effect after January 28, 1976, and use of this color additive in the manufacture of food, drugs, or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The Commissioner finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before him, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market food, drugs, and cosmetics containing the color additive.

(k)(1) Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 10, D&C Red No. 11, D&C Red No. 12, and D&C Red No. 13, their lakes and all mixtures containing these color additives or their lakes are cancelled and have no effect after December 13, 1977, and use of these color additivies in the manufacture of drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The Commissioner finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before him, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market, drug and cosmetic products containing the color additives.

(l)(1) Certificates issued for Ext. D&C Yellow No. 1 and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect after December 13, 1977, and use of this color additive in the manufacture of drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The Commissioner finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before him, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market drugs and cosmetics containing the color additive.

(m)(1) Certificates issued for Ext. D&C Green No. 1 and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect after November 29, 1977, and use of the color additive in the manufacture of drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The Commissioner finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before him, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market drugs and cosmetics containing the color additive.

(n)(1) Certificates issued for D&C Orange No. 10, D&C Orange No. 11, their lakes, and all mixtures containing these color additives are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to their use in ingested drugs and cosmetics after April 28, 1981 and use of these color additives in the manufacture of ingested drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The agency finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market drugs and cosmetics to which the color additives were added on or before April 28, 1981.

(o)(1) Certificates issued for D&C Blue No. 6 and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled insofar as its use in drugs and cosmetics is concerned and have no effect after December 13, 1977, and use of the color additive in the manufacture of drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration. The color will continue to be certified for use in the coloring of surgical sutures.

(2) The Commissioner finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before him, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market drugs and cosmetics containing the color additive.

(p)(1) Certificates issued for D&C Green No. 6, its lakes and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to their use in ingested drugs and cosmetics after May 4, 1982 and use of the color additive in the manufacture of ingested drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The agency finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market ingested drugs and cosmetics containing the color additive.

(q) [Reserved]

(r)(1) Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 19 and D&C Red No. 37, their lakes, and all mixtures containing these color additives are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to their use in ingested drugs and cosmetics after February 4, 1983, and use of these color additives in the manufacture of ingested drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The agency finds, on the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market ingested drugs and cosmetics to which D&C Red No. 19 and D&C Red No. 37 were added on or before February 4, 1983, or externally applied drugs and cosmetics to which D&C Red No. 37 was added on or before June 6, 1986.

(3) Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 37, its lakes, and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to its use in externally applied drugs and cosmetics after June 6, 1986, and use of this color additive in the manufacture of externally applied drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(4) Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 19, its lakes, and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to its use in externally applied drugs and cosmetics after July 15, 1988, and use of this color in the manufacture of externally applied drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(5) The agency finds, on the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market externally applied drugs and cosmetics to which D&C Red No. 19 was added on or before July 15, 1988.

(s)(1) Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 8 and D&C Red No. 9, their lakes, and all mixtures containing these color additives are canceled and have no effect as pertains to their use in mouthwash, dentifrices, and ingested drugs, except ingested drug lip products, after January 6, 1987, and use of these color additives in the manufacture of mouthwash, dentifrices, and ingested drugs, except ingested drug lip products, after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The agency finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market mouthwash, dentifrices, and ingested drugs to which the color additives were added on or before January 6, 1987.

(3) Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 8, and D&C Red No. 9, their lakes, and all mixtures containing these color additives are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to their use in ingested drug and cosmetic lip products and in externally applied drugs and cosmetics after July 15, 1988, and use of these color additives in the manufacture of ingested drugs and cosmetic lip products and in externally applied drugs and cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(4) The agency finds, on the basis of the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market ingested drug and cosmetic lip products and externally applied drugs and cosmetics to which the color additives were added on or before July 15, 1988.

(t)(1) Certificates issued for D&C Orange No. 17, its lakes, and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to its use in ingested drugs and ingested cosmetics after March 31, 1983 and use of this color additive in the manufacture of ingested drugs or ingested cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The agency finds, on the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market drugs and cosmetics to which the color additive was added on or before March 31, 1983.

(3) Certificates issued for D&C Orange No. 17, its lakes and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to its use in externally applied drugs and cosmetics after July 15, 1988, and use of this color in the manufacture of externally applied drugs or cosmetics after this date will result in adulteration.

(4) The agency finds, on the scientific evidence before it, that no action has to be taken to remove from the market externally applied drugs and cosmetics to which D&C Orange No. 17 was added on or before July 15, 1988.

(u)(1) Certificates issued for FD&C Red No. 3 and all mixtures containing this color additive are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to their use in cosmetics and externally applied drugs after January 29, 1990. Certificates issued for FD&C Red No. 3 lakes and all mixtures containing these lakes are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to their use in food, drugs, and cosmetics after January 29, 1990. Certificates issued for D&C Red No. 3 lakes and all mixtures containing those lakes are cancelled and have no effect as pertains to their use in drugs and cosmetics after January 29, 1990. Use of this color additve in the manufacture of cosmetics and of externally applied drugs and any use of the lakes of FD&C Red No. 3 (including the lakes of D&C Red No. 3) after this date will result in adulteration.

(2) The agency finds, on the scientific evidence before it, that no action must be taken to remove from the market food, drugs, and cosmetics to which the provisionally listed color additive or its lakes were added on or before January 29, 1990.

[42 FR 15665, Mar. 22, 1977]

Text from eCFR as of Sep 1, 2026.

Cited alongside it

Regulations that appear in the same letters as 21 CFR 81.30.

Latest letters citing it

The 3 letters citing 21 CFR 81.30 that FDA posted most recently.

See the 3 letters citing 21 CFR 81.30 →
For regulated teams

Put this kind of reading to
work on your own records.

Botable builds and runs a custom AI layer around the software you already use, so your team can do the job you hired them for.

Counts include every citation in a letter, as the Letters filter does. How this database is built.

Every letter by dateHow this database is built

FDA Warning Letter Alerts

Share this view

Send the same filters, search and view to a colleague.

You choose what to post or send. Sharing a link does not change access to this site.