E904 Shellac Supplier from India — Dewaxed Bleached, Food Grade
Wax-free bleached shellac for confectionery glazing, fruit coating and tablet coating. Shipped with a batch certificate of analysis from a NABL-accredited laboratory against the E904 specification. Price ₹1,700 – ₹2,100 per kg, MOQ 25 kg.
E904 Food-Grade Shellac
Shellac is the food additive E904 (INS 904 in the Codex system), a natural glazing agent made from lac resin. Since Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/189, the E904 purity criteria in Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 cover wax-free bleached shellac only. That is the grade on this page, often ordered as "dewaxed shellac E904": lac resin that has been dewaxed to below 0.2% wax and bleached to a light, near-white colour.
Food and pharmaceutical buyers use it to give sweets, chocolate, fruit and tablets a hard, glossy, moisture-resistant film. Each lot is tested by a NABL-accredited laboratory, and the COA shows the batch values for wax, acid value, loss on drying, rosin and heavy metals. Refining is done by our partner processors in the Purulia–Kolkata belt.
Orange, lemon, blonde and garnet flakes, standard (waxed) bleached shellac and seedlac are technical grades for wood finishing and coatings, not food grades. For those, see shellac flakes and bleached shellac for coatings (not food grade). If you are choosing between waxed and dewaxed grades, compare them on our dewaxed shellac page — unbleached dewaxed shellac is a technical grade, not E904.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product | Dewaxed bleached shellac (wax-free bleached shellac) |
| Food additive number | E904 (EU) · INS 904 (Codex) |
| Form | Off-white to light-yellow powder or granules |
| Wax content | ≤ 0.2% |
| Acid value | 60–89 |
| Rosin | Absent |
| Lead | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Loss on drying, arsenic, mercury | Within Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 limits; batch values on COA |
| Colour | Batch-specific, stated on COA |
| Solubility | Soluble in ethanol; dispersible in aqueous alkali (ammonia) |
| Standard packing | 25 kg double-lined bags or cartons |
| Shelf life | 12 months in cool, dry storage (stock to rotation) |
| Incoterms | FOB Kolkata / CFR / CIF |
Limits shown are the typical E904 purchase specification. Confirm against the current text of Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and your own quality agreement. A batch-specific COA accompanies every shipment. HS code: 1301 90 99 in India (HS 1301.90 internationally); confirm with your customs broker.
E904 compliance and what the COA must show
| Requirement | Reference / what to check |
|---|---|
| EU additive | E904, specification in Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as amended by (EU) 2026/189: purified and bleached lac, wax removed by filtration |
| Codex | INS 904 (glazing agent) |
| Wax | Not more than 0.2% |
| Lead | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Arsenic, mercury | Within the 231/2012 limits — batch values on COA |
| COA must show | Lot number · wax % · acid value · loss on drying · rosin (absent) · lead, arsenic, mercury · colour · statement of conformity with the E904 specification |
E904 Uses: Confectionery Glaze, Fruit Coating & Tablet Coating
Confectionery Glaze
Shine and moisture barrier on panned sweets, chocolate dragées, jelly beans and chewing gum. Sold in the US as "confectioner's glaze".
Fruit Coating
Surface coating on citrus and other fresh fruit, where local rules permit, to reduce moisture loss and add gloss.
Tablet Coating
Film coating and polishing of tablets and food supplements, plus a binder in edible marking inks.
Nuts, Coffee & Bakery
Glazing of nuts, coffee beans, decorations and small chocolate-coated bakery items within permitted uses.
Detailed guides: shellac for food & confectionery · shellac for pharmaceutical coating · shellac for fruit coating · shellac coating for apples · E904 buyer's guide
Samples, Shipping & Documents for E904 Shellac
| Samples | 100–500 g on request. The courier charge is deducted from your first bulk invoice. |
|---|---|
| Quotation | Price ₹1,700 – ₹2,100 per kg depending on grade. Freight and insurance are added by Incoterm (FOB Kolkata, CFR or CIF) — tell us grade, quantity and destination port and we confirm within 24 hours. |
| By sea | FOB Kolkata, CFR or CIF to your port. |
| Bangladesh | By road via the Petrapole–Benapole border on FCA or DAP terms. See our Bangladesh buyer guide. |
| Vietnam | Certificate of origin Form AI under the ASEAN–India FTA, for reduced import duty. See our Vietnam buyer guide. |
| Documents | Batch COA from a NABL-accredited laboratory, food-additive compliance declaration, MSDS, technical data sheet, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin. Halal and Kosher certificates on request. |
| Payment | T/T (50% advance for new buyers) or LC at sight. |
| Storage | Keep below 25 °C, dry and sealed. Use first-in, first-out; bleached grades age faster than orange shellac. |
Buyer Guides
- Bleached vs Unbleached Shellac: Which One to Buy
- Shellac Grades Explained: Which Grade for Which Job
- What Is E904 Shellac? A Buyer's Guide to Food-Grade Compliance
- COA, MSDS and TDS Explained
- Why Shellac Blocks in Storage — and How to Prevent It
- Food-grade shellac glazing agent (E904)
- Shellac for pharmaceutical tablet coating
- Shellac for Fruit Coating — industry guide
- Shellac Coating for Apples — ethanol glaze guide
Or WhatsApp us about E904 shellac →
E904 Shellac — Common Questions
Is all shellac E904?
No. Since Regulation (EU) 2026/189, only wax-free bleached shellac (wax ≤ 0.2%) meets the E904 purity criteria. Waxed grades, orange and blonde flakes, button lac and seedlac are technical grades.
What is the difference between E904 shellac and confectioner's glaze?
E904 is the resin itself. Confectioner's glaze is the US name for food-grade shellac, usually as a solution in food-grade ethanol. We mainly supply the dry resin, so your plant prepares the glaze to its own solids level. For apple coating we also supply a ready-to-use solution in food-grade ethanol.
Can it be used for pharmaceutical tablet coating?
Yes, dewaxed bleached shellac is the usual grade for tablet coating. Pharmaceutical buyers buy to a pharmacopoeia monograph (for example Ph. Eur. "Shellac, dewaxed bleached" or USP "Refined Bleached Shellac"). Tell us the monograph at enquiry and we will confirm whether the lot COA covers it.
Powder or granules — which should I order?
Powder dissolves fastest and suits glaze and coating plants. Granules flow better and cake less in warm storage. Both are the same grade; tell us your preference when you request a quote.
How long does E904 shellac keep?
About 12 months in cool, dry, sealed storage. Bleached shellac slowly loses solubility as it ages, especially in heat, so order for steady use rather than long stockholding. See why shellac blocks in storage.
Is shellac vegan?
No. Shellac comes from the resin secreted by the lac insect. Vegan products usually use carnauba wax or zein instead.
Is E904 shellac used for coating fruit like apples and citrus?
Yes. Shellac (E904) is used as a glazing agent on citrus, apples and other fruit, alone or in wax emulsions, to add gloss and reduce moisture loss. Check the permitted uses in your market; see shellac for fruit coating.
Buy E904 Food-Grade Shellac in Bulk
MOQ from 25 kg · Batch COA from a NABL-accredited lab · FOB / CFR / CIF from Kolkata · Quotes within 24 hours.