EU Revises Maximum Residue Limits for Nickel in Certain Foods
According to the latest information in the Official Journal of the European Union, the European Commission has promulgated Regulation (EU) 2024/1987 of 31 July 2024, which amends the maximum residue limits for nickel (nickel) in food. The amendment relates to the maximum residue limits for nickel in Section 3 (Metals and other elements) of Annex I to Regulation (EU)2023/915. The specific revisions are as follows:
| 0.6 | Nickel | Maximum Residue Limit (mg/kg) | Remarks |
| 3.6.1 | Tree Nuts | The highest level applies to the edible part. The highest level does not apply to tree nuts intended for pressing and refining, provided that the remaining pressed tree nuts are not placed on the market as food. Taking into account paragraphs 3(1) and (2), if the remaining pressed tree nuts are placed on the market as food, the highest level applies. | |
| 3.6.1.1 | Tree Nuts, except for those listed in 3.6.1.2 | 3.5 | |
| 3.6.1.2 | Chestnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts and cashews | 10 | |
| 3.6.2 | Root and tuber vegetables, and bulb vegetables | 0.9 | The highest level applies to wet weight. |
| The highest level applies after washing and separating the edible parts. For potatoes, the highest level applies to peeled potatoes. | |||
| 3.6.3 | Solanaceous vegetables | 0.4 | The highest level applies to wet weight. |
| The highest level applies after washing and separating the edible parts. | |||
| 3.6.4 | Brassica vegetables | 0.5 | The highest level applies to wet weight. |
| The highest level applies after washing and separating the edible parts. | |||
| 3.6.5 | Leaf vegetables | The highest level applies to wet weight. | |
| The highest level applies after washing and separating the edible parts. | |||
| 3.6.5.1 | Leaf vegetables, except for those listed in 3.6.5.2 | 0.5 | |
| 3.6.5.2 | Fresh herbs | 1.2 | |
| 3.6.6 | Legume vegetables | The highest level applies to wet weight. | |
| The highest level applies after washing and separating the edible parts. | |||
| 3.6.6.1 | Legume vegetables, except for those listed in 3.6.6.2 | 1 | |
| 3.6.6.2 | Soya beans/green beans | 6 | |
| 3.6.7 | Stem vegetables | 0.4 | The highest level applies to wet weight. |
| The highest level applies after washing and separating the edible parts. | |||
| 3.6.8 | Seaweed | For dried seaweed, the maximum level applies to the product as marketed. | |
| For fresh seaweed, the maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible parts. For fresh seaweed, the highest level applies to the dry matter. | |||
| 3.6.8.1 | Seaweeds, excluding those listed in 3.6.8.2 | 30 | |
| 3.6.8.2 | Laminaria | 40 | |
| 3.6.9 | Legumes | ||
| 3.6.9.1 | Legumes, excluding those listed in 3.6.9.2 | 4 | |
| 3.6.9.2 | Dry beans and dry Jack beans | 12 | |
| 3.6.10 | Oilseeds | The maximum level does not apply to oilseeds for crushing and refining, provided that the remaining crushed oilseed cake is not placed on the market as food. Considering points 3(1) and (2), if the remaining crushed oilseed cake is placed on the market as food, the maximum level applies. | |
| 3.6.10.1 | Sunflower seeds | 8 | |
| 3.6.10.2 | Peanuts | 12 | |
| 3.6.10.3 | Soybeans | 15 | |
| 3.6.11 | Cereals | The maximum level does not apply to cereals intended for the production of beer or distillates, provided that the remaining cereal residues are not placed on the market for final consumption as food. Considering points 3(1) and (2), if the remaining cereal residues are placed on the market for final consumption as food, the maximum level applies. | |
| 3.6.11.1 | Cereals, excluding those listed in 3.6.11.2, 3.6.11.3, 3.6.11.4 and 3.6.11.5 | 0.8 | |
| As of July 1, 2026 | |||
| 3.6.11.2 | Durum wheat and rice, excluding those listed in 3.6.11.3 | 1.5 | |
| As of July 1, 2026 | |||
| 3.6.11.3 | Brown rice | 2 | |
| As of July 1, 2026 | |||
| 3.6.11.4 | Pseudocereals and millet | 3 | |
| As of July 1, 2026 | |||
| 3.6.11.5 | Oats | 5 | The maximum level applies to oat grains without inedible husks. To calculate the maximum content for oat grains with inedible husks, a processing factor of 1.5 needs to be applied, resulting in a maximum content of 7.5 mg/kg for oat grains with inedible husks. |
| As of July 1, 2026 | |||
| 3.6.12 | Cocoa and chocolate products | ||
| 3.6.12.1 | Milk chocolate with a total dry cocoa solids content of less than 30% | 2.5 | |
| 3.6.12.2 | Milk chocolate and chocolate with a total dry cocoa solids content of 30% or more | 7 | |
| 3.6.12.3 | Cocoa powder and low-fat cocoa powder placed on the market for final consumption, or as an ingredient in sweetened cocoa powder or chocolate powder (drinking chocolate) | 15 | |
| 3.6.13 | Infant formula, follow-on formula, food for special medical purposes for infants and young children, and young-child formula | The maximum level applies to products placed on the market. | |
| 3.6.13.1 | In powder form, excluding those listed in 3.6.13.2 | 0.25 | |
| 3.6.13.2 | In powder form, made from soy protein isolate, alone or mixed with cows' milk proteins | 0.4 | |
| 3.6.13.3 | In liquid form | 0.1 | |
| 3.6.14 | Processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children | 3 | The maximum level applies to products placed on the market. |
| 3.6.15 | Baby foods, excluding those listed in 3.6.16 | 0.5 | The maximum level applies to products placed on the market. |
| 3.6.16 | Fruit juices, nectars, and vegetable juices, including those used in baby foods | ||
| 3.6.16.1 | Fruit juices, nectars, and vegetable juices, excluding those listed in 3.6.16.2 | 0.25 | |
| 3.6.16.2 | Fruit juices and nectars containing passion fruit, cocoa fruit, small fruits, berries, or coconut water | 1 |
These new MRLS will be implemented from 1 January 2025.
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