Table 1
Comparison of MLs across the years for raw materials destined to crushing and refining and refined vegetable oils and fats.
| Regulated contaminants | 20071 | 20132 | 20253 |
| Zearalenone | 200 μg/kg Refined maize oil | 400 μg/kg Refined maize oil | 400 μg/kg Refined maize oil |
| Lead | - | 2,0 μg/kg Oils and fats intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foods | 2,0 μg/kg Oils and fats intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foods |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) | - | 10,0 μg/kg Sum of benzo (a) pyrene, benz (a) anthracene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and chrysene Oils and fats intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foods
2,0 μg/kg (benzoapyrene) 20,0 μg/kg Sum of benzo(a) pyrene, benz (a) anthracene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and chrysene Coconut oil intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in food |
10,0 μg/kg Sum of benzo (a) pyrene, benz (a) anthracene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and chrysene Oils and fats intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foods
2,0 μg/kg (benzoapyrene) 20,0 μg/kg Sum of benzo (a) pyrene, benz (a) anthracene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and chrysene Coconut oil intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in food |
| Sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (WHO-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ) | 1,5 pg/g fat Vegetable oils and fats | 1,25 pg/g fat Vegetable oils and fats | 1,25 pg/g fat Vegetable oils and fats |
| Melamine | - | 2,5 mg/kg Food | 2,5 mg/kg Food |
| Aflatoxins | 2,0 μg/kg (B1)
4,0 μg/kg (Sum of B1, B2, G1 and G2) Oils from tree nuts |
2,0 μg/kg (B1)
4,0 μg/kg (Sum of B1, B2, G1 and G2) Oils from tree nuts |
|
| Sum of PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180 (ICES – 6) | 40,0 ng/g fat Vegetable oils and fats | 40,0 ng/g fat Vegetable oils and fats | |
| Erucic acid | - | - | 20,0 g/kg Vegetable oils and fats placed on the market for the final consumer or for use as an ingredient in food
50,0 g/kg Camelina oil, mustard oil and borage oil |
| Glycidyl fatty acid esters | - | - | 1000 μg/kg Vegetable oils and fats, fish oils and oils from other marine organisms placed on the market for the final consumer or for use as an ingredient in food except products listed in 5.4.2
500 μg/kg Vegetable oils and fats, fish oils and oils from other marine organisms destined for the production of baby food and processed cereal-based food for infants and young children |
| Sum of 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) and 3-MCPD fatty acid esters | - | - | 1250 μg/kg oils and fats from coconut, maize, rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, palm kernel and olive oils (composed of refined olive oil and virgin olive oil) and mixtures of oils and fats with oils and fats only from this category
2500 μg/kg other vegetable oils, fish oils and oils from other marine organisms and mixtures of oils and fats with oils and fats only from this category* 4 mixtures of oils and fats 750 μg/kg Vegetable oils and fats, fish oils and oils from other marine organisms destined for the production of baby food and processed cereal-based food for infants and young children |
| Ochratoxin A | - | - | 5,0 μg/kg Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, hempseeds, soybeans
3,0 μg/kg Maize oil |
2From Eurlex consolidated version 1/01/2014 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02006R1881-20140101
3From Eurlex consolidated version 1/07/2025 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02023R0915-20250701
4The oils and fats used as ingredient for the mixture shall comply with the maximum level established for the oil and fat. Therefore, the level of the sum of 3-MCPD and 3-MCPD fatty acid esters, expressed as 3-MCPD in the mixture, shall not exceed the level calculated in accordance with Article 3(1), point (c). In case the quantitative composition is not known for the competent authority and the food business operator, not producing the mixture, the level of the sum of 3-MCPD and 3-MCPD fatty acid esters, expressed as 3-MCPD in the mixture shall in any case not exceed 2 500 μg/kg.
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