Food

18.03.2015 | Since 16.03.2015, new interim levels for perchlorate are applied in the EU, which were defined by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) on 10th of March 2015.

Summary of new interim perchlorate levels:

FOOD (*)	level (mg/kg)
Fruits and vegetables	0.1
with the exception of - Cucurbitaceae and leafy vegetables except	0.2
- - celery and spinach grown in glasshouse/undercover	0.5
- - herbs, lettuce and salad plants, including rucola,     grown in glasshouse/under cover	1.0
Dried spices (except dried herbs and paprika), dried hops	0.5
Tea (Camellia sinensis), dried	0.75
Herbal and fruit infusions, dried	1.0
Foods for infants and young children - ready-to-eat	0.02
Other food	0.05

Background
In December 2014, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an updated risk management report on perchlorate. In this report, a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.3 µg perchlorate per kg body weight and per day was defined for healthy adults.

No definite reference levels for perchlorate in foods were defined until now due to the inadequate state of available data. Therefore, the Commission will start a monitoring programme for various food commodities in April 2015. During 2016 maximum residue limits may be deducted from the collected data after scientific assessment and evaluation.

Analysis
At GALAB, perchlorate is determined with a single-residue method using LC-MS. Our method has a limit of quantification of 0.01 mg/kg.

Further information
EU Contaminants
EFSA risk assessment – under review
Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH)

25.08.2015 | Effective of 1th July 2015, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) has modified interim levels for residues of perchlorate in dried herbal and fruit infusions. read more

back to news