The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System ( INS ) as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee . Only a subset of the INS additives are approved for use in the European Union , the ` E ' prefix which stands for Europe . The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System ( INS ) as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee though only a subset of the INS additives are approved for use in the European Union .