Current status of discussions on limit values for mycotoxins in food

: Published: 11 May 2020

The EU Commission has been dealing for some time now with the modification or establishment of limit values for the mycotoxins T2/HT2 and deoxynivalenol (DON).

The latest state of the EU Commission's discussions with the member states and relevant associations was the idea in April to set binding maximum levels for oat products instead of warning values ("indicative" level) for T2/HT2 toxins and to probably apply these also to animal feed.

For DON, the preferred reference basis for setting maximum levels is the sum of DON, 3-acetyl-DON, 15-acetyl-DON and DON-3-glucoside. Should this change in the residue definition occur, it must be ensured analytically that all components can be determined. By means of empirical values regarding the composition of the metabolites, factors for calculation could also be defined.

Differentiating analysis can currently only be carried out using the LC MS/MS method, which is of course available in the specialised laboratories of the AGROLAB GROUP for the analysis of food and feed.

T-2 / hT2- Toxins	Indicative level	Suggested MRL (Discussion)
Unprocessed cereals (B2B)
Barley (including brewing barley), maize and durum wheat	200 µg/kg	100 µg/kg
Oats (with husk)	1000 µg/kg	500 µg/kg
Soft wheat, rye and other cereals	100 µg/kg	50 µg/kg
Cereals intended for supply to final consumers (B2C)
Oat grain	200 µg/kg	50 µg/kg
Durum wheat, corn	100 µg/kg	50 µg/kg
other cereals (grains)	50 µg/kg	20 µg/kg
Cereal products intended for supply to final consumers (B2C)
Oat bran and oat flakes	200 µg/kg	50 µg/kg
Cereal bran (excluding oat bran) Oat milling products (except oat bran and flakes) Corn milling products	100 µg/kg	50 µg/kg
other milled cereal products	50 µg/kg	20 µg/kg
Breakfast cereals including formed cereal flakes	75 µg/kg	20 µg/kg
Bread (including small bakery products), pastry, biscuits, cereal snacks, pasta	25 µg/kg	10 µg/kg
Cereal-based foods for infants and young children	15 µg/kg	10 µg/kg
Status 31.1.2020

Autor: Dr. Frank Mörsberger

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