COMMISSION REGUL ATION (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, cracke d, chopped apricot kern els placed on the market for the 
final consumer 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION, 
Having regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 
Having regar d 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. 
(2)  The Scientifi c Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (Contam) of the European Food Safet y Author ity (EFSA) 
adopt ed a scientific opinion on acute health risks relat ed to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in raw apricot 
kernels and products derived from raw apricot kern els (3). The term ‘raw apricot kern els and products derived 
from raw apricot kernels ’ refer red to in the scientifi c opinion concer n the same products as the term 
‘unpr ocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped apricot kernels ’ refer red to in this Regulation. 
(3)  Amygdalin is the major cyanog enic glycoside present in unprocessed apricot kernels and is degraded to 
hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) by chewing. Hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) is highly toxic to humans. An acute reference 
dose (ARfD) of 20 µg/kg bw was derived by the Contam Panel for assessing the risks associated with the presence 
of cyanog enic glycosides in unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped apricot kernels. Taking into 
account the repor ted levels of cyanogenic glycosides in unpro cessed apricot kernels, the ARfD would be exceeded 
already by consum ption of only a very few unprocessed apricot kernels. 
(4)  It is theref ore appropr iate to establish a maximum level for hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) in unprocessed whole, 
ground, milled, crack ed, chopped apricot kern els placed on the mark et for the final consumer . 
(5)  Given the very fragment ed mark et of unpro cessed apricot kernels and the possible acute health risks for public 
health, it should be provided that the operator guarant ees that all unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, 
chopped apricot kern els placed on the mark et for the final consumer comply with the maximum level. 
(6)  It is appropr iate to establish the sampling rules to be applied for the control of compl iance with the maximum 
level. 
(7)  Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should theref ore be amended according ly. 
(8)  The measures provided 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 the Annex to this Regulation. 8.7.2017 L 177/36 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     
(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 Contam Panel (EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain), 2016. Scientific opinion on the acute health risks related to 
the presence of cyanogen ic glycosides in raw apricot kernels and products derived from raw apricot kernels. EFSA Journal 
2016;14(4):4424, 47 pp doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4424 
http://www .efsa.europa.eu/sites/def ault/files/scientif ic_output/fi les/main_documents/4424.pdf Article 2 
The operator who places unpro cessed whole, ground, milled, crack ed, chopped apricot kern els on the mark et for the 
final consumer shall provide upon request from the compet ent author ity evidence of compliance of the mark eted 
product with the maximum level. 
Article 3 
The sampli ng for the control of compl iance with the maximum level shall be performe d in accordance with the rules set 
out in part D.2 of Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 (1). 
Article 4 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following 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 State s. 
Done at Brussels, 7 July 2017. 
For the Commission 
The President 
Jean-Claude JUNCK ER  8.7.2017 L 177/37 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     
(1)Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 of 23 Febr uary 2006 laying down the methods of samplin g and analysis for the official 
control of the levels of mycoto xins in foodstuffs (OJ L 70, 9.3.2006, p. 12). ANNEX 
In Section 8 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, the following entr y is added: 
‘8.3 Hydrocyanic acid, including hydrocyanic acid bound in cyanoge nic glycosides  
8.3.1 Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, crac ked, chopped apricot kernels placed on the 
mark et for the final consumer (54)(55) 20,0 
(54)  “Unprocessed products” as defined in Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 Apr il 
2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1). 
(55)  “Placing on the market” and “final consumer” as defin ed 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 Autho rity and laying down procedures in matters of food safet y (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1).’   8.7.2017 L 177/38 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN