Following a meeting this week by the European Commission Working Group on Environmental Contaminants, a proposed draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2013/915 as regards maximum levels of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food and the Draft Annex have been circulated. The document includes a Maximum Limit for the categories “Marine oil” and “Food supplements” of 10.0 mg/kg beginning 1/1/2026 and 5.0 mg/kg from 1/1/2030. This is a significant departure from the previous proposed limit for fats and oils of 2.0 mg/kg, which was expected to go into effect as early as 1/1/2025 with no transition period, so it’s clear that the Commission took feedback from stakeholders into consideration.
Also of interest for some of our members are the proposed MLs for ‘Infant formulae, follow-on formulae, young-child formulae, food for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children, baby food, processed cereal-based food for infants and young children and drinks for infants and young children placed on the market and labeled as such.’ The proposed MLs are as follows:
- Products with < 4% fat/oil content: 0.50 mg/kg
- Products with ≥ 4% and ≤ 50% fat/oil content: 1.0 mg/kg
- Products with > 50% fat/oil content: 2.0 mg/kg
Also discussed during the Working Group were the Draft Recommendation on the monitoring of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in food and the Draft Regulation on the methods for the sampling and analysis of MOHs in food.
The draft regulation now needs to be approved by the European Member States and voted on by the EU Council of Ministers and EU Parliament. GOED still believes a vote could take place in either Quarter 3 or 4 of this year.
GOED last reported on this issue in the February 26, 2024 GOED Current.
