Maximum levels for mycotoxins and other contaminants listed below in food are set in Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 and subsequent amendments. 

This regulation lays down the maximum limits for certain contaminants in food in particular to protect the health of the most sensitive population groups, i.e. children, the elderly and pregnant women.

The following contaminants are covered:

• mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fusarium toxins, patulin and citrinin…),
• metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, inorganic tin),
• 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD),
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),
• melamine,
• erucic acid,
• nitrates.

Other related EU Directives and regulations: 

• Directive 2003/74/EC: Hormones
• EC2073/2005: Microbiology
• Directive 1999/2/EC and 1999/3/EC: Irradiation
• Directive 96/23: Veterinary medicine
• Regulation EC1829/2003: GM Food and Feed
• Directive 2002/32/EC on undesirable substances in animal feed

Directive 2002/32/EC establishes the maximum levels of contaminants, including mycotoxins, permitted in feed. Due to the wide year-to-year variation and the limited carry-over from food to feed of Fusarium toxins and ochratoxin A, a two-step approach was adopted for these mycotoxins in Recommendation 2006/576/EC.

Provisions for methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of mycotoxins were introduced in Regulation (EC) 401/2006.