Commission Regulation (EU) No 696/2014 of 24 June 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of erucic acid in vegetable oils and fats and foods containing vegetable oils and fats Text with EEA relevance
Commission Regulation (EU) No 696/2014of 24 June 2014amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of erucic acid in vegetable oils and fats and foods containing vegetable oils and fats(Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in foodOJ L 37, 13.2.1993, p. 1., and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,Whereas:(1)Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (OJ L 364, 20.12.2006, p. 5). sets maximum levels for contaminants in food.(2)A maximum level for erucic acid in oils and fats intended as such for human consumption and in foodstuffs containing added oils and fats has been established by Council Directive 76/621/EECCouncil Directive 76/621/EEC of 20 July 1976 relating to the fixing of the maximum level of erucic acid in oils and fats intended as such for human consumption and in foodstuffs containing added oils and fats (OJ L 202, 28.7.1976, p. 35).. Erucic acid is a natural plant toxin which is a contaminant according to the definition of the contaminant provided in Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 as the presence of erucic acid in food is the result of the agricultural production, more in particular the choice of the variety. To simplify the legislation, it is appropriate to establish the maximum level for erucic acid in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. Furthermore it is appropriate to harmonise the provisions for foodstuffs with a fat content equal or less than 5 %. Directive 76/621/EEC shall then be repealed subsequently by a self-standing legal act.(3)The appropriateness of a maximum level for erucic acid has been highlighted by the Scientific Committee on Food in its opinion expressed on 17 September 1993 on essential requirements for infant formulae and follow-on formulaehttp://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/reports/scf_reports_34.pdf.(4)A stricter maximum level for erucic acid in infant formulae and follow-on formulae has been established by Commission Directive 2006/141/ECCommission Directive 2006/141/EC of 22 December 2006 on infant formulae and follow-on formulae and amending Directive 1999/21/EC (OJ L 401, 30.12.2006, p. 1).; it is appropriate to indicate this maximum level also in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006.(5)Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly.(6)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1In the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, the following Section 8 "Inherent plant toxins" is added.
"Section 8: Inherent plant toxinsthe maximum level refers to the level of erucic acid, calculated on the total level of fatty acids in the fat component in food."
Foodstuffs (1)Maximum levels (g/kg)
8.1Erucic acid
8.1.1Vegetable oils and fats50
8.1.2Foods containing added vegetable oils and fats with the exception of the foods referred to in 8.1.350
8.1.3Infant formulae and follow-on formulae (8)10
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the maximum level refers to the level of erucic acid, calculated on the total level of fatty acids in the fat component in food."
Article 2Entry into force and applicationThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.It shall apply from 1 July 2014.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 24 June 2014.For the CommissionThe PresidentJosé Manuel Barroso