Ethylene oxide

PESTICIDE RESIDUES

Ethylene oxide is a small molecule with fungicidal and biocidal properties. It is a plant protection product classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) and used by many countries, including India, Canada and Australia, to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds during the transport of foodstuffs.

In early September 2020, several European Union member states reported ethylene oxide concentrations 100 times higher than the maximum residue level (MRL) in sesame seeds.

Controls have been implemented on sesame seeds from other origins without specifically targeting the exporting country, in order to identify whether this practice is widespread in other countries. Controls have been extended to other foodstuffs imported from India, such as spices, nuts, other oilseeds, dried mushrooms, dried vegetables, rice, herbs, tea, okra, chilli peppers and guar gum, as well as to other countries.

Which products are affected?

Aromatic and medicinal plants

Oilseeds and oleaginous fruits

Oils

Dried fruit and vegetables

Cereal products and by-products

Spices

The Phytocontrol solution

Phytocontrol, expert in pesticide analysis, adapts to your needs and offers a COFRAC-accredited analytical method for ethylene oxide and its metabolite, 2-chloroethanol, by GC-MS/MS.
Our limits of quantification comply with the regulatory limits in force for each matrix. Through this accreditation, we aim to give you the assurance of reliable, high-quality analytical results. Our laboratory can carry out this analysis within 3 to 5 days, with capacity to handle urgent requests at all times.

Regulations

The compliance of a sample is based on adherence to the MRL set out in Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 and its amendments. The regulatory residue definition for ethylene oxide is as follows: Ethylene oxide (sum of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol expressed as ethylene oxide).

Case of raw materials:
The sample is declared non-compliant:

• If the ethylene oxide content is >0.05 mg/kg in sesame seeds, other oilseeds and oleaginous fruits, and herbs.
• If the ethylene oxide content is >0.02 mg/kg in fruit, vegetables and cereals.
• If the ethylene oxide content is >0.1 mg/kg in tea, herbal infusions and spices.

Case of processed products:
Compliance assessment must be based on the MRL of the fresh product.
For products made up of several ingredients, the lowest MRL among those applicable to these ingredients must be used.
If a processing factor is known, it may be applied only where the ethylene oxide treatment was carried out before the product was processed.

Case of feed intended for animal consumption:
Once a raw material exceeds the MRLs set out in Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005, it can no longer be used as animal feed.
These raw materials and their by-products cannot be used in animal feed.

Case of organic products:
For products from organic farming, whether raw, processed or composite, compliance is assessed against a value of 0.01 mg/kg. In the event of a confirmed non-compliance, the organic operator must inform their certification body and their customers. In all the cases mentioned above, measurement uncertainty must not be taken into account when interpreting the analytical results.