Section 7: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)

Product	Maximum level(μg/kg wet weight)	Performance criteria for sampling	Performance criteria for methods of analysis
7.1. Benzo(a)pyrene6
7.1.1. Oils and fats intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foods7	2,0	Directive 2005/10/EC5	Directive 2005/10/EC
7.1.2. Foods for infants and young children	1,0	Directive 2005/10/EC	Directive 2005/10/EC
7.1.2.1. Baby foods and processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children8
7.1.2.2. Infant formulae and follow-on formulae, including infant milk and follow-on milk9
7.1.2.3. Dietary foods for special medical purposes10 intended specifically for infants
7.1.3. Smoked meats and smoked meat products	5,0	Directive 2005/10/EC	Directive 2005/10/EC
7.1.4. Muscle meat of smoked fish and smoked fishery products11, excluding bivalve molluscs	5,0	Directive 2005/10/EC	Directive 2005/10/EC
7.1.5. Muscle meat of fish12, other than smoked fish	2,0	Directive 2005/10/EC	Directive 2005/10/EC
7.1.6. Crustaceans, cephalopods, other than smoked	5,0	Directive 2005/10/EC	Directive 2005/10/EC
7.1.7. Bivalve molluscs	10,0	Directive 2005/10/EC	Directive 2005/10/EC
See page 15 of this Official Journal.
Benzo(a)pyrene, for which maximum levels are listed, is used as a marker for the occurrence and effect of carcinogenic PAH. These measures therefore provide full harmonisation on PAH in the listed foods across the Member States. The Commission shall review the maximum levels for PAH in the listed food categories by 1 April 2007, taking into account the progress in scientific and technological knowledge on the occurrence of benzo(a)pyrene and other carcinogenic PAH in food.
Cocoa butter is excluded from this category whilst investigations into the presence of benzo(a)pyrene in cocoa butter are made. This derogation will be reviewed by 1 April 2007.
Baby foods and processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children as defined in Article 1 of Directive 96/5/EC. The maximum level refers to the product as sold.
Infant formulae and follow-on formulae as defined in Article 1 of Directive 91/321/EEC. The maximum level refers to the product as sold.
Dietary foods for special medical purposes as defined in Article 1(2) of Directive 1999/21/EC. The maximum level refers to the product as sold.
Fish and fishery products as defined in the categories (b), (c), and (f) of the list in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000.
Fish as defined in the category (a) of the list in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000.