Additives: Sulphur dioxide (SO2) maximum levels to be analysed by EFSA

7 MARCH 2025

The European Commission submitted a mandate to EFSA to evaluate the impact of a reduction of the maximum levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) on dietary exposure.

EFSA has published the mandate, which will need to be concluded until 30 June 2025. The mandate includes two sets of levels to be analysed, referenced as Scenarios 1 and 2. The proposed levels for relevant products are below, for Scenario 1 (mg/Kg or mg/L). Changes for Scenario 2 are presented in the end.

Scenario 1:

Frozen fruit and vegetables (white vegetables including mushrooms and white pulses, as well as frozen and deep frozen potatoes) - 50.

Dried fruit and vegetables:

  • Only dried Coconut - 50.
  • Only dried ginger - 150.
  • Only dried tomatoes - 200.
  • Only white vegetables, excluding mushrooms and white pulses - 400.
  • Only dried fruit excluding apples, pears, bananas, apricots, pears, grapes, prunes and figs - 500.
  • Only dried apples and pears - 600.
  • Only dried bananas - 1000.
  • Only dried apricots - 2000.
  • Only dried peaches - 1000.
  • Only dried golden grapes - 1500.

Fruit and vegetables in vinegar, oil and brine:

  • Except olives and golden peppers in brine - 100.
  • Only golden peppers in brine - 500.

Canned and bottled fruit and vegetables:

  • Only white vegetables, including pulses and processed mushrooms - 50.
  • Only bottled, sliced lemon - 250.

Fruit and vegetable preparations excluding compote:

  • Only processed white vegetables and mushrooms - 50.
  • Only rehydrated dried fruit - 100.
  • Only onion, garlic and shallot preparation - 300.
  • Only horseradish preparation - 800.

Unprocessed molluscs and crustaceans:

  • Only fresh, frozen and deep-frozen crustaceans and cephalopods - 100.

Processed fish and fishery products, including molluscs and crustaceans:

  • Only cooked crustaceans and cephalopods - 100.
  • Only cooked crustaceans of the Penaeidae, Solenoceridae and Arestaeidae family - 200.
  • Only dried salted fish of the 'Gadidae' species - 10.

Changes for Scenario 2:

  • Dried fruit excluding apples, pears, bananas, apricots, pears, grapes, prunes and figs - 500 (mango, pineapple), 150 (dried fruits excluding the fruits for which specific limits are set).
  • Dried apples and pears - 500.
  • Dried bananas - 600.
  • Dried apricots - 1500.

More information is available at https://open.efsa.europa.eu/questions/EFSA-Q-2024-00627?search=sulphur+dioxide

Contact: João Pereira at jpereira@frucom.eu.

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