Press Release: New EU rules on PAH levels in food, mainly on benzo(a)pyrene

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 12 October 2004 voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to set maximum levels at EU level for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), in particular for benzo(a)pyrene. This applies to certain foods containing fats and oils and foods where smoking or drying processes might cause high levels of contamination. Maximum levels are also proposed for foods such as fish, where environmental pollution may cause high levels of contamination, for example resulting from oil spills. PAH have been shown to be carcinogenic and maximum levels are set to protect public health.

European Commission: Food Safety: Regulatory Committees: Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health http://ec.europa.eu/comm/food/fs/rc/scfcah/index_en.html

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