A new regulation of the EU Commission on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds and some bakery products

Published 2022년 7월 21일

Tridge summary

The European Union Commission has enacted a new regulation setting maximum limits on opium alkaloids, specifically morphine and codeine, in poppy seeds and certain bakery products, effective July 1. This move comes in the wake of a 2018 update by the European Food Safety Authority on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds, which highlighted the potential for these substances to exceed acceptable levels. The regulation introduces maximum limits for codeine in poppy seed samples, requiring conversion to morphine equivalent, and lays down maximum content for whole, ground, or crushed poppy seeds for consumer use at 20 mg/kg, while the permissible limit for bakery products is 1.5 mg/kg. This regulation permits foodstuffs already on the market before July 1 to be sold until their minimum durability or use-by date.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

July 1 this year A new regulation of the EU Commission on maximum levels of opium alkaloids in poppy seeds and some bakery products entered into force. In 2018, the European Food Safety Authority adopted an update of the scientific opinion on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds. Poppy seeds contain low levels of morphine and codeine, however, due to various factors, this content may increase. The EU Commission therefore established maximum limits and concluded that the codeine concentration in poppy seed samples should be taken into account by converting codeine to morphine equivalent using a factor of 0.2. In section 8 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, entry 8.5 was therefore added: whole, ground or crushed poppy seeds marketed for the final consumer - 20 mg / kg bakery products containing poppy seeds or their derivatives - 1.5 ...

Source: Foodfakty