COMMI SSION REGUL ATION (EU) 2022/1364 
of 4 August 2022
amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of hydrocyanic acid in certain 
foodstuff s 
(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, including 
hydrocyanic acid, in foodstuffs.
(2) Hydrocyanic acid is a highly toxic substance. While it is not present in food at toxicologically relevant levels, it is 
released when plant-der ived foods containing cyanoge nic glycosides are chewed or other wise processed and those 
glycosides enter into contact with hydrolytic enzymes. As hydrocyanic acid alwa ys forms as a mixture of non- 
dissociat ed acid and dissociat ed cyanide ions, the health-based guidance value is calculat ed for this mixture, refer red 
to as ‘cyanide’.
(3) In 2019, the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) adopt ed an updat e of the scientifi c opinion on the 
evaluation of the health risks relat ed to the presence of cyanog enic glycosides in foods other than raw apricot 
kernels (3). The Author ity concluded that a human exposure below the acute reference dose (ARfD) of 20 μg 
cyanide/kg body weight (bw) should not produce acute adverse effects. If certain foods such as linseed, almonds and 
cassava with high levels of cyanoge nic glycosides are consumed, the ARfD for cyanide could be excee ded. It is 
theref ore appropr iate to set maximum levels of hydrocyanic acid, including hydrocyanic acid bound in cyanogenic 
glycosides for these foods. When ground linseed as such is consumed, the bioavai lability of hydrocyanic acid and 
human exposure levels to it are higher than when whole linseeds are consumed or when they are heat-treat ed. It is 
theref ore appropr iate to set stricter levels for whole linseed, which can be ground by the consumer , before 
consum ption and ground linseed placed on the market for the final consumer when intended to be consumed raw.
(4) Maximum levels for hydrocyanic acid should theref ore be set in certain foodstuffs to ensure a high level of human 
health prote ction.
(5) Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should theref ore be amended according ly.
(6) To enable economic operat ors to prepare for the new rules introduced by this Regulation, it is appropr iate to provid e 
for a reasonable time until the new maximum levels apply . It is also appropr iate to provide for a transitional period 
for foodstuffs lawfully placed on the market before the date of application of this Regulation.
(7) 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,
(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)Scientific opinion‘Evaluation of the health risks relate d to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in foods other than raw apricot 
kernels ’, EFSA Jour nal, Vol 17, No 4, European Food Safety Autho rity, 2019, pp. 78; https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5662EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 5.8.2022 L 205/227  HAS ADOPTED THIS REGUL ATION:
Article 1
The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
Foodstuffs listed in the Annex, lawfully placed on the mark et before 1 Januar y 2023 , may remain on the market until their 
date of minimum durability or use-by date.
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day followi ng that of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union.
It shall apply from 1 Januar y 2023 .
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 4 August 2022 .
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYENEN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 205/228 5.8.2022  ANNEX 
In Section 8 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, entr y 8.3 is replaced by the following:
Foodstuffs(1)Maximum level  
(mg/kg)
‘8.3 Hydrocyanic acid, including hydrocyanic acid bound in cyanogenic glycosides
8.3.1 Unprocessed whole (60), ground, milled, crack ed, chopped linseed with the excep tion of 
foodstuffs listed in 8.3.2 (54)250
8.3.2 Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped linseed placed on the mark et for the 
final consumer (54) (55)(*)150
8.3.3 Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped almonds placed on the mark et for the 
final consumer (54) (55)(*)35
8.3.4 Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped apricot kernels placed on the mark et 
for the final consumer (54) (55)20
8.3.5 Cassav a root (fresh, peeled) 50
8.3.6 Cassav a flour and tapioca flour 10
(*)The maximum level does not apply to unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopp ed linseed and unprocessed whole, ground, 
milled, crack ed, chopped bitter almonds placed on the market for the final consumer in small quantities where the warning ‘Only to be 
used for cooking and baking. Do not consume raw!’ appears in the principal field of vision of the label (using the font size specified in 
Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision 
of food information to consumers (OJ L 304 22.11.2011, p. 18)). The unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped linseed 
with the warning message has to comply with the maximum level provi ded for in 8.3.1.’EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 5.8.2022 L 205/229