In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority adopted its Scientific Opinion on the risks to public health related to the presence of nickel in food and drinking water. The opinion identified reproductive and developmental toxicity as the critical effect for the risk characterization of chronic oral exposure to nickel. Eczematous flare-up reactions and worsening of allergic reactions were identified as the critical effect for acute oral exposure to nickel of nickel-sensitised humans.
The Authority concluded that nickel may cause both chronic and acute effects. Maximum levels for nickel in food should therefore be set to ensure a high level of human health protection. Regulation (EU) 2023/915 should therefore be amended accordingly.
On July 31, 2024, the EU enacted Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1987, setting the maximum nickel limits for foods. The impacted product category, their subcategories and respective maximum levels are outlined in Section 3 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/915. The affected product categories encompass:
- Tree nuts
- Root and tuber vegetables and bulb vegetables
- Fruiting vegetables
- Brassica vegetables
- Leafy vegetables
- Legume vegetables
- Stem vegetable
- Seaweed
- Pulses
- Oilseeds
- Cereals
- Cocoa and chocolate products
- Infant formulae, follow-on formulae, food for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children and young-child formulae
- Processed cereal-based food for infants and young children
- Baby food excluding specific products
- Fruit juices, fruit nectars and vegetable juices including fruit juices, fruit nectars and vegetable juices intended as baby food
The specified maximum nickel levels for these products will be enforceable from July 1, 2025, except for cereals, which will be applicable from July 1, 2026. Food lawfully placed on the market before the implementation dates may continue to be sold until their respective minimum durability or use-by dates.
For details see attached link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32024R1987
