COMMI SSION REGUL ATION (EU) 2019/1870 
of 7 November 2019 
amending and correcting Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of erucic acid 
and hydrocyanic acid in certain foods tuffs 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION, 
Havi ng regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 
Havi ng regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 Febr uary 1993 laying down Community procedures for 
contaminants in food (1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof, 
Whereas: 
(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 (2) sets maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs, 
including for erucic acid in certain foodstuffs. 
(2) On 21 Sept ember 2016, the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONT AM) of the European Food 
Safety Auth ority (EFSA) adopt ed a scientifi c opinion on erucic acid in feed and food (3). EFSA established a tolerable 
daily intak e (TDI) of 7 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day for erucic acid. The highest dietar y exposure levels were 
obser ved for infants and other children with exposure levels above the TDI. This may indicate a risk for young 
individuals with high erucic acid exposure. 
(3) Data on the presence of erucic acid in vege table oils and fats indicate that for most vege table oils and fats, lower 
levels can be achieved by applying good practices, e.g. by using varieties low in erucic acid. Theref ore, it is 
appropr iate to lower the maximum level for vegeta ble oils, with the excep tion of camelina oil, mustard oil and 
borage oil, to the level established by Codex Alimentar ius for low-er ucic acid rapeseed oil (4). 
(4) For camelina oil, mustard oil and borage oil, evidence has been provided demonstrating that it is not possible to 
achi eve lower levels by applying good practices as for these species there are no varieties of whic h the vegetable oils 
extract ed from these plants contain levels of erucic acid lower than the maximum level proposed for the other 
veget able oils. Theref ore and given that these oils are of less significance for the human exposure than other 
veget able oils, the maximum level for erucic acid in camelina oil, mustard oil and borage oil should remain the 
same. Further more, in order to avoid the closure of small and micro size enterprises in certain Member State s, it is 
appropr iate to exem pt mustard oil produced and consumed locally in small quantities of the application of the 
maximum level, with accepta nce of the compet ent author ity. 
(5) Given that the maximum level for vegetable oils and fats applies also to vegetable oils used as ingredient in food, 
there is no need to establish a maximum level for erucic acid in foods containing added vegetable oils and fats. 
(6) Given the high concentration of erucic acid in mustard there is a risk of signif icant exposure to erucic acid through 
consum ption of mustard. Theref ore, it is appropr iate to establish a maximum level for erucic acid in mustard. 
(1)OJ L 37, 13.2.1993, p. 1. 
(2)Commission 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). 
(3)EFSA Journal 2016;14(11):4593 
(4)Standard for named vegetable oils (CODEX STAN 210-1999), Codex Alimentar ius. EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.11.2019                                                                                                                                         L 289/37   (7) A maximum level for erucic acid in infant formulae and follo w-on formulae has already been established by 
Commission Delegat ed Regulation (EU) 2016/127 (5). For reasons of clarity, the maximum level for erucic acid in 
infant formulae and follow-on formulae established by Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should be deleted. 
(8) In Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1237 (6), no unit of measurement is set for the maximum level for 
hydrocyanic acid. It is theref ore appropr iate to correct this error in order to provide legal certainty . 
(9) Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should theref ore be amended according ly. 
(10) The measures provid ed for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committ ee on 
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGUL ATION: 
Article 1 
The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation. 
Article 2 
The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is corrected in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation. 
Article 3 
Foodstuffs listed in the Annex to this Regulation that were lawfully placed on the mark et before the entr y into force of this 
Regulation may remain on the mark et until their date of minimum durability or use-by-dat e. 
Article 4 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day followi ng that of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 7 November 2019.  
For the Commission 
The President 
Jean-Claude JUNCKER     
(5)Commission Delegat ed Regulation (EU) 2016/127 of 25 September 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for infant formula and 
follow-on formula and as regar ds requirements on information relating to infant and young child feed ing (OJ L 25, 2.2.2016, p. 1). 
(6)Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1237 of 7 July 2017 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards a maximum level of 
hydrocyanic acid in unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped apricot kernels placed on the market for the final consumer 
(OJ L 177, 8.7.2017, p. 36). EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 289/38                                                                                                                                         8.11.2019   ANNEX I 
In section 8 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, entr y 8.1 is replaced by the follo wing:                                                              
‘Foodstuffs (1) Maximum level (g/kg) 
8.1 Erucic acid, including erucic acid bound in fat  
8.1.1 Vegetable oils and fats placed on the market for the final con­
sumer or for use as an ingredient in food, with the excep tion of 
camelina oil, mustard oil and borage oil 20,0 
8.1.2. Camelina oil, mustard oil (1) and borage oil 50,0 
8.1.3. Mustard (condiment) 35,0 
(1) With acceptance from the compet ent author ity, the maximum level does not apply to mustard oil locally produced and consumed.’   EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.11.2019                                                                                                                                         L 289/39   ANNEX II 
In section 8 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, entr y 8.3 is replaced by the follo wing:                                                              
Foodstuffs (1) Maximum level (mg/kg) 
‘8.3 Hydrocyanic acid, including hydrocyanic acid bound in 
cyanogenic glycosides  
8.3.1 Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped apricot 
kernels placed on the mark et for the final consumer (1) (2) 20,0 
(1) “Unprocessed products” as defined in Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 Apr il 2004 
on they hygiene of foodstuffs (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1). 
(2) “Placing on the market” and “final consumer” as defined in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 28 Januar y 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety 
Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1)’.   EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 289/40                                                                                                                                         8.11.2019