Legal regulations for mycotoxins as of July 2024
Focus on Fusarium Toxins Deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2/HT-2 Toxin
Aug 2024 (update). On 1 July 2024, new or lowered maximum levels for the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and T‑2/HT‑2 toxin entered into force in the European Union. The corresponding maximum levels were set out in Regulation (EU) 2024/1022 (deoxynivalenol) and Regulation (EU) 2024/1038 (T‑2 and HT‑2 toxin) and integrated as amending regulations into the European Contaminants Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
Significant changes for deoxynivalenol (DON)
Maximum levels for DON in cereals and cereal products were lowered and new maximum levels were introduced for certain product groups. Additional product categories were renamed as part of this process.
The previous maximum levels for DON were reduced for the following products:
- Unprocessed cereal grains
- Unprocessed durum wheat grains and unprocessed maize grains
- Milling products of cereals
- Milling products of maize
- Pasta
- Baby food and processed cereal-based food for infants and young children
Maximum levels were newly established for the following products:
- Maize for popping and popcorn
- Ready-to-eat polenta
- Food for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children
The following categories were renamed:
- Milling products of maize
- Bakery wares, cereal snacks and breakfast cereals
The maximum levels for oat grains with husks and for cereal grains for the end consumer remained unchanged.
The regulation applied from 1 July 2024. Products lawfully placed on the market before 1 July 2024 may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date.
Significant changes for T-2/HT-2 toxin
Previously, there were only indicative levels for T-2/HT-2 toxin in cereals and cereal products based on Monitoring Recommendation 2013/165/EU.
The new Draft Regulation set maximum levels for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxin for the following food groups:
- Unprocessed cereal grains, different maximum levels depending on the type of cereal
- Cereal products for the final consumer, different maximum levels depending on the type of cereal
- Milled cereal products, different maximum levels depending on the type of cereal
- Bakery wares, pasta, cereal snacks and breakfast cereals
- Baby food and processed cereal-based food for infants and young children
food for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children
The sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxin is to be given as ”lower bound” calculation. This means that results below the limit of quantification for a toxin are included in the sum parameter with “zero”.
The maximum levels for T-2/HT-2 toxin applied from 1 July 2024. Products that are legally placed on the market before this date can remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date.
The levels of T-2/HT-2 toxin in oat and oat products will continue to be monitored and data will be submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Fusarium toxins deoxynivalenol and T-2/HT-2 toxin – occurrence and toxicity
Fusarium toxins are mycotoxins mainly produced by fungi of the Fusarium genus as secondary metabolites. As natural soil fungi, fusaria decompose plant residues. However, many of these Fusarium species are also plant parasites and develop numerous different mycotoxins, summarised under the term Fusarium toxins. The most important Fusarium toxin representatives are T-2 and HT-2 toxin (A-trichothecenes), deoxynivalenol, acetyldeoxynivalenol, nivalenol and fusarenone X (B-trichothecenes) as well as zearalenone and fumonisins.
Fusarium spp. infect especially cereals like wheat, corn, oat and barley. Severe loss of harvest and a mycotoxin contamination can be the result. The degree of mycotoxin development and infestation depends on various factors such as humidity, temperature, the course of the growing season, soil cultivation and the vulnerability of the given species.
For deoxynivalenol and its acetylated and modified derivatives (3- and 15-acetyl-DON and DON-3-glucoside), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 1 µg/kg bw per day in 2017. In addition, an acute group reference dose (Group ArfD) of 8 µg/kg bw per meal was set. While acute exposure was below this established dose, chronic exposure of babies, children and adults was found to pose a health risk. The new and adjusted maximum levels again refer only to DON, as too little data is available for the DON derivatives and these have not yet been analysed in routine practice.
For T-2/HT-2 toxin, EFSA already set a total TDI of 0.1 µg/kg bw in 2011, which was revised to 0.02 µg/kg bw in 2017. In addition, an acute group ARfD of 0.3 µg/kg bw was established in 2017. As with DON and its derivatives, acute exposure to T-2/HT-2 toxin was found to be below the established dose, but chronic exposure was considered to pose a potential health risk to babies, children and adults.
Analysis of deoxynivalenol and T‑2/HT‑2 toxin at the Eurofins Competence Centre
The experts from the Competence Centre for mycotoxins and biotoxins within the global Eurofins laboratory network have many years of experience in the analysis of mycotoxins and plant toxins. In addition to all mycotoxins and plant toxins covered by Regulation (EU) 2023/915, our portfolio includes many other mycotoxins and plant toxins such as Alternaria toxins, beauvericin, enniatins and derivatives of deoxynivalenol (e.g. 3- and 15- acetyldeoxynivalenol) as well as quinolizidine alkaloids.
The homogenisation of large sample quantities and the respective matrix-specific requirements for homogenisation have been part of our expertise for many years. The requirements of the new sampling regulations for mycotoxins (Regulation (EU) 2023/2782) and for plant toxins (Regulation (EU) 2023/2783), which came into force on 1 April 2024, are already largely met or will be adapted within the applicable transition periods.
Sampling services in the country of origin complement the comprehensive service of the Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories in Germany.
Get in touch
Would you like to find out more about our testing solutions, or do you need tailored analytical support? Contact us today to get in touch with our experts.
Written by:
Carina Kellner
Eurofins WEJ Contaminants GmbH