Paraffin Wax パラフィンワックス

In Japan

• A mixture of solid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. Its purposes in the List of Existing Food Additives are gum base and glazing agent. Its alternative name is “パラフィン” (paraffin). No standards for use are set.
• When used as a base for chewing gum it can be written under the group name “ガムベース” (gum base), and when used to give a gloss to the surface of food it can be written under the group name “光沢剤” (glazing agent) (CAA, annex to the “Food Labeling Standards” notice).

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

• It is not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II), so it cannot be used as a food additive in the EU.
• Paraffin wax is not on the EU additives list (among waxes, microcrystalline wax E905 is listed).

Sources

• List of Existing Food Additives — Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation (Japanese)
• Standards for use and storage of each additive — Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation (Japanese)
• EU food additive database (Japanese translation) — MAFF (Japanese)
• Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives — EUR-Lex
• 第10版食品添加物公定書（2024年、厚生労働省・消費者庁）成分規格・保存基準各条の定義 (Japanese)
• 消費者庁「食品表示基準について」別添 添加物関係（簡略名・用途名併記・一括名・栄養強化の範囲、既存添加物名簿収載品目リスト） (Japanese)

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

Other substances used as gum base, glazing agent

• Urushi Wax
• Carnauba Wax / Brazil Wax
• Candelilla Wax
• Rice Bran Wax
• Cane Wax
• Shellac Wax
• Microcrystalline Wax
• Bees Wax
• Lanolin