EU regulations: requirements for the spice industry
These limits and guided values for pyrrolizidine alkaloids, lead, alternaria toxins und ochratoxin A should be observed
July 2023 (update). Food manufacturing companies should be aware of the following changes in 2021 and 2022 for four groups of contaminants: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), lead, Alternaria toxins and ochratoxin A (OTA). These are relevant to companies in the spice industry, but also to other industries that use spices in their products. Check your raw materials now to see if they comply within the current or future EU regulations.
A compact summary of the maximum levels and guides values for you:
Maximum levels for lead
Regulated by: Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1317 of 9 August 2021 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of lead in certain foodstuffs, transferred in May 2023 to the new European Contaminants Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
Valid from: August 2021.
Valid for: Wild mushrooms, fresh turmeric and fresh ginger, dried spices (fruit spices, root and rhizome spices, bark spices, bud spices and flower pistil spices, seed spices)
| Foodstuffs | Maximum level (mg/kg net weight) | |
| 3.1.15 | Wild fungi, fresh turmeric and fresh ginger | 0.80 |
| 3.1.26 | Dried spices: | |
| – Fruit spices | 0.60 | |
| – Root and rhizome spices | 1.50 | |
| – Bark spices | 2.0 | |
| – Bud spices and flower pistil spices | 1.0 | |
| – Seed spices | 0.90 | |
Guided values for alternaria toxins
Regulated by: Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/553 of 5 April 2022 on monitoring the presence of Alternaria toxins in food.
Valid from: April 2022.
Valid for: processed tomato products, paprika powder, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, nuts, dried figs, cereal-based baby foods.
Other: recommendations on sampling procedures apply. Food business operators should submit the previous year's data to EFSA by June 30 each year. These are guideline values above which it should be determined which factors lead to the presence and the impact of food processing.
| Foodstuff | Alternariol (AOH) (μg/kg) | Alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) (μg/kg) | Tenuazonic acid (TeA) (μg/kg) |
| Paprika powder | – | – | 10,000 |
Maximum levels for ochratoxin A
Regulated by: Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 (May 2023) setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. The amending Regulation (EU) 2022/1370 to the former Contaminants Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 (supplementing or reducing the existing maximum levels) entered into force on 28 August 2022.
Validity of added or reduced maximum levels: since January 2023
Amending Regulation valid for: additional maximum levels for spices in general, dried herbs, certain ingredients for herbal tea, dried fruit other than dried grapes, certain oilseeds, pistachios, cocoa powder, non-alcoholic malt beverages and date syrup, and lowering of some existing maximum levels
| Foodstuffs | Maximum levels(μg/kg) | |
| 2.2.14 | Spices, including dried spices, except Capsicum spp. | 15 |
| Capsicum spp. (dried fruits thereof, whole or ground, including chillies, chilli powder, cayenne and paprika) |
20 | |
| Mixtures of spices | 15 | |
| 2.2.16 | Dried herbs | 10 |
| 2.2.17 | Ginger roots for use in herbal infusions | 15 |
| Marshmallow roots, dandelion roots and orange blossoms for use in herbal infusions or in coffee substitutes |
20 | |
Maximum levels for pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Regulated by: Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/2040 of 11 December 2020 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in certain foodstuffs, transferred in May 2023 to the new European Contaminants Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
Valid from: July 2022
Valid for: (flavoured) tea, rooibos and herbal tea, food supplements containing herbal ingredients, pollen (products) and pollen-based food supplements, borage, lovage, marjoram and oregano (dried) and mixtures thereof, cumin
Other: foods listed in the Annex that were legally marketed before 1 July 2022, may continue to be marketed until 31 December 2023.
| Foodstuffs | Maxiumum level (μg/kg) | |
| 8.4.8 | Borage leaves (fresh, frozen) placed on the market for the final consumer |
750 |
| 8.4.9 | Dried herbs with the exception of the dried herbs referred to in 8.4.10. |
400 |
| 8.4.10 | Borage, lovage, marjoram and oregano (dried) and mixtures exclusively composed of these dried herbs |
1,000 |
| 8.4.11 | Cumin seeds (seed spice) | 400 |
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Written by:
Eurofins WEJ Contaminants GmbH
Eurofins Dr. Specht International GmbH