Ethylene Oxide EU Rules for Spices
Ethylene oxide is a banned pesticide in the EU with a 0.1 mg/kg default limit; the compliant route for spices is steam sterilisation and testing.
- ETO status in EU
- Banned pesticide since 1991
- Reg. (EU) 2023/915 — maximum levels for certain contaminants
ETO rule table
Ethylene oxide (ETO) is a fumigant once used to sterilise spices. It has been banned as a pesticide in the EU since 1991 and has driven large recall waves when found in imported spice and blend lots.
| Item | Value / rule |
|---|---|
| EU default limit | 0.1 mg/kg |
| Regulatory status | Banned pesticide in the EU since 1991 |
| Common trigger | Fumigated whole spices and some blends and additives |
| Compliant alternative | Steam sterilisation plus batch testing |
Why ETO is a recall magnet
- The 0.1 mg/kg figure is a default limit, not an acceptable working level, because ETO is banned outright. Any detectable residue attributable to ETO use is treated as non-compliant.
- ETO can enter a blend through a single contaminated ingredient or carrier, so a compliant primary spice can still fail if an additive was fumigated.
- The route to compliance is steam sterilisation, which kills microbes without leaving a banned residue, followed by testing to confirm both microbial and ETO status.
Contract language that protects you
State no ethylene oxide treatment at any stage, require steam sterilisation where a kill step is needed, and require an ETO test result on the finished lot including its additives. YouPals coordinates that testing across its vetted processor network but does not itself sterilise or process.
Frequently asked
Is ethylene oxide banned in the EU?
Yes. Ethylene oxide has been a banned pesticide in the EU since 1991. The 0.1 mg/kg default limit is not a working allowance; the compliant kill step is steam sterilisation.
How do you sterilise spices without ethylene oxide?
Steam sterilisation achieves the microbial kill without leaving a banned residue, then the lot is tested for both microbes and ethylene oxide.
Sourcing this? Tell us the spice, grade and destination and we return a documented offer — vetted supply, QC oversight, and the test dossier your market needs.
Start a sourcing enquiry →What this page does not tell you
- ETO metabolite 2-chloroethanol
- How 2-chloroethanol is summed into the ETO result varies by method and is not restated here as a figure.
- Non-EU ETO rules
- Ethylene oxide rules differ in the US and other markets and are not covered by the EU figures above.
Reviewed 16 July 2026.
Sources
- Reg. (EU) 2023/915 — maximum levels for certain contaminants· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16
- Reg. (EU) 2019/1793 — temporary increase of official controls· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16
- RASFF Window — EU rapid alert for food and feed· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16