“SCHEDULE 6EXTRACTION SOLVENTS WHICH MAY BE USED DURING THE PROCESSING OF RAW MATERIALS, OF FOODSTUFFS, OF FOOD COMPONENTS OR OF FOOD INGREDIENTS

Regulations 10, 11 and 14

Table 1: Extraction solvents to be used in compliance with good manufacturing practice for all uses

Name(1)
Propane
Butane
Ethyl acetate
Ethanol
Carbon dioxide
Acetone(2)
Nitrous oxide

(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.

Table 2: Extraction solvents for which conditions of use are specified

Name	Conditions of use (summary description of extraction)	Maximum residue limits in the extracted foodstuff or food  ingredient
Hexane (1)	Production or fractionation of fats and oils and production of cocoa butter	1  mg/kg in the fat or oil or cocoa butter
	Preparation of defatted protein products and defatted flours	10  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 germs	5  mg/kg in the defatted cereal germs
Methyl acetate	Decaffeination of, or removal of irritants and bitterings from coffee and tea	20  mg/kg in the coffee or tea
	Production of sugar from molasses	1  mg/kg in the sugar
Ethylmethylketone (2)	Fractionation of fats and oils	5  mg/kg in the fat or oil
	Decaffeination of, or removal of irritants and bitterings from coffee and tea	20  mg/kg in the coffee or tea
Dichloromethane	Decaffeination of, or removal of irritants and bitterings from coffee and tea	2  mg/kg in the roasted coffee and 5  mg/kg in the tea
Methanol	For all uses	10  mg/kg
Propan-2-ol	For all uses	10  mg/kg
Dimethyl ether	Preparation of defatted animal protein products including gelatine (3)	0.009 mg/kg in the defatted animal protein products including gelatine
	Preparation of collagen (4) and collagen derivatives, except gelatine	3 mg/kg in the collagen and collagen derivatives, except gelatine

(1)

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.

(2)

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

(3)

‘Gelatine’ means natural, soluble protein, gelling or non-gelling, obtained by the partial hydrolysis of collagen produced from bones, hides and skins, tendons and sinews of animals, in accordance with the relevant requirements of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

(4)

‘Collagen’ means the protein-based product derived from animal bones, hides, skins and tendons manufactured in accordance with the relevant requirements of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

Table 3: Extraction solvents for which conditions of use are specified

Name	Maximum residue limits in the foodstuff due to the use of extraction solvents in the preparation of flavourings from natural flavouring materials
Diethyl ether	2  mg/kg
Hexane (*)	1  mg/kg
Cyclohexane	1  mg/kg
Methyl acetate	1  mg/kg
Butan-1-ol	1  mg/kg
Butan-2-ol	1  mg/kg
Ethylmethylketone (*)	1  mg/kg
Dichloromethane	0.02  mg/kg
Propan-1-ol	1  mg/kg
1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane	0.02  mg/kg
Methanol	1.5 mg/kg
Propan-2-ol	1 mg/kg
* The combined use of Hexane and Ethylmethylketone is forbidden.”.