Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1237 of 7 July 2017 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards a maximum level of hydrocyanic acid in unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels placed on the market for the final consumer (Text with EEA relevance. )

• Published date: 08 July 2017
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Union, L 177, 8 July 2017

8.7.2017 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 177/36

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2017/1237

of 7 July 2017

amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards a maximum level of hydrocyanic acid in unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels placed on the market for the final consumer

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food (1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 (2) sets maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.

(2) The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (Contam) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted a scientific opinion on acute health risks related to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in raw apricot kernels and products derived from raw apricot kernels (3). The term ‘raw apricot kernels and products derived from raw apricot kernels’ referred to in the scientific opinion concern the same products as the term ‘unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels’ referred to in this Regulation.

(3) Amygdalin is the major cyanogenic glycoside present in unprocessed apricot kernels and is degraded to hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) by chewing. Hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) is highly toxic to humans. An acute reference dose (ARfD) of 20 μg/kg bw was derived by the Contam Panel for assessing the risks associated with the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels. Taking into account the reported levels of cyanogenic glycosides in unprocessed apricot kernels, the ARfD would be exceeded already by consumption of only a very few unprocessed apricot kernels.

(4) It is therefore appropriate to establish a maximum level for hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) in unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels placed on the market for the final consumer.

(5) Given the very fragmented market of unprocessed apricot kernels and the possible acute health risks for public health, it should be provided that the operator guarantees that all unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels placed on the

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