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Directive 2009/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Directive 2009/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients (Recast) (Text with EEA relevance)

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ANNEX I EXTRACTION SOLVENTS WHICH MAY BE USED DURING THE PROCESSING OF RAW MATERIALS, OF FOODSTUFFS, OF FOOD COMPONENTS OR OF FOOD INGREDIENTS

PART I Extraction solvents to be used in compliance with good manufacturing practice for all uses (1)

Name:

  • Propane

  • Butane

  • Ethyl acetate

  • Ethanol

  • Carbon dioxide

  • Acetone(2)

  • Nitrous oxide

PART II Extraction solvents for which conditions of use are specified

a

Hexane means a commercial product consisting essentially of acyclic saturated hydrocarbons containing six carbon atoms and distilling between 64 °C and 70 °C. The combined use of Hexane and Ethylmethylketone is forbidden.

b

The level of n-Hexane in this solvent should not exceed 50 mg/kg. The combined use of Hexane and Ethylmethylketone is forbidden.

NameConditions of use(summary description of extraction)Maximum residue limits in the extracted foodstuff or food ingredient
HexaneaProduction or fractionation of fats and oils and production of cocoa butter1 mg/kg in the fat or oil or cocoa butter
Preparation of defatted protein products and defatted flours10 mg/kg in the food containing the defatted protein products and the defatted flours
30 mg/kg in the defatted soya products as sold to the final consumer
Preparation of defatted cereal germs5 mg/kg in the defatted cereal germs
Methyl acetateDecaffeination of, or removal of irritants and bitterings from coffee and tea20 mg/kg in the coffee or tea
Production of sugar from molasses1 mg/kg in the sugar
EthylmethylketonebFractionation of fats and oils5 mg/kg in the fat or oil
Decaffeination of, or removal of irritants and bitterings from coffee and tea20 mg/kg in the coffee or tea
DichloromethaneDecaffeination of, or removal of irritants and bitterings from coffee and tea2 mg/kg in the roasted coffee and 5 mg/kg in the tea
MethanolFor all uses10 mg/kg
Propan-2-olFor all uses10 mg/kg

PART III Extraction solvents for which conditions of use are specified

a

The combined use of Hexane and Ethylmethylketone is forbidden.

NameMaximum residue limits in the foodstuff due to the use of extraction solvents in the preparation of flavourings from natural flavouring materials
Diethyl ether2 mg/kg
Hexanea1 mg/kg
Cyclohexane1 mg/kg
Methyl acetate1 mg/kg
Butan-1-ol1 mg/kg
Butan-2-ol1 mg/kg
Ethylmethylketonea1 mg/kg
Dichloromethane0,02 mg/kg
Propan-1-ol1 mg/kg
1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane0,02 mg/kg
(1)

An extraction solvent is considered as being used in compliance with good manufacturing practice if its use results only in the presence of residues or derivatives in technically unavoidable quantities presenting no danger to human health.

(2)

The use of Acetone in the refining of olive-pomace oil is forbidden.

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