What Is the EU Ethylene Oxide Limit?

What is the EU ethylene oxide limit for spices?

The EU applies a 0.1 mg/kg default maximum residue limit for ethylene oxide in spices. ETO has been banned as a pesticide in the EU since 1991, so the limit sits at the detection floor and any measurable residue can trigger a recall.

The limit in practice

• —Default maximum residue limit: 0.1 mg/kg (sum of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol, expressed as ETO).
• —ETO banned as a pesticide in the EU since 1991.
• —Detections are published as RASFF alerts and drive product recalls.
• —Compliant kill step: steam sterilisation, confirmed by testing.

What it means for sourcing

Because the number is near the detection limit, there is no safe working level of ETO in an EU-bound spice; the target is none. That pushes the control back to sourcing and process: use suppliers who never apply ETO, sterilise by steam, and test the finished lot.

The limit applies to the whole supply chain. ETO introduced upstream, for example in an imported ingredient blended into the lot, still shows in the finished product, so trace the chain, not just the last processor.

Frequently asked

Is the ETO limit the same for every spice?

0.1 mg/kg is the default. EU pesticide law carries spice-specific residue definitions in some cases, so confirm the exact figure for your spice before shipping.