Regulation of the European Commission Amending the Maximum Levels of Nickel in Certain Foods

Regulation of the European Commission Amending the Maximum Levels of Nickel in Certain Foods 

(Regulation (EU) No 2024/1987 of 30 July 2024) 

I. Issuance of the Regulation and Basis for Amendment 

1. Issuing Authority and Date 

This Regulation was adopted by the European Commission on 30 July 2024, aiming to amend Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Certain Foods (hereinafter referred to as the "original Regulation"). 

2. Core Content of the Amendment 

This Regulation supplements the chapter "Metals and Other Elements" in the original Regulation, introduces maximum level standards for nickel in specific foods, and clarifies the requirements for their implementation. 

II. Core Content and Effective Date 

1. Maximum Levels of Nickel 

This Regulation sets maximum residue limits for nickel for the following food categories (on a wet weight basis, unless otherwise specified): 

Tree nuts: Chestnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews: 10 mg/kg; 

Other tree nuts: 3.5 mg/kg. 

Roots and tubers: 0.90 mg/kg (e.g., potatoes shall be tested with their skins removed). 

Solanaceous vegetables: 0.40 mg/kg (e.g., tomatoes, eggplants). 

Cereals: Brown rice: 2.0 mg/kg; 

Oats (without inedible hulls): 5.0 mg/kg (effective from 1 July 2026); 

Other cereals: 0.80–3.0 mg/kg (see the original Regulation for details). 

Chocolate and cocoa products: Milk chocolate (dry cocoa solids < 30%): 2.5 mg/kg; 

Chocolate (dry cocoa solids ≥ 30%): 7.0 mg/kg; 

Cocoa powder: 15 mg/kg. 

Infant and young child food: Soy-based formula (powder): 0.40 mg/kg; 

Liquid formula: 0.10 mg/kg. 

2. Exceptional Cases 

Tree nuts and oilseeds used for oil pressing, where the remaining residues are not sold as food, are exempt from the nickel limit requirements. 

For oat grains with inedible hulls, a processing factor of 1.5 shall be applied when calculating the limit (e.g., if the limit for hulless oats is 5.0 mg/kg, the limit for oats with hulls is 7.5 mg/kg). 

3. Effective Date 

1 July 2025: The nickel limits for all food categories except cereals shall officially come into force. 

1 July 2026: The nickel limits for cereals (e.g., oats, brown rice) shall officially take effect.