Scientific opinion on the evaluation of substances as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils

Helle Katrine Knutsen, Alexander Jan, Lars Barregård, Margherita Bignami, Beat Brüschweiler, Sandra Ceccatelli, Bruce Cottrill, Michael Dinovi, Lutz Edler, Christer Hogstrand, Laurentius (Ron) Hoogenboom, Carlo Nebbia, Isabelle Oswald, Annette Petersen, Martin Rose, Alain-Claude Roudot, Tanja Schwerdtle, Günter Vollmer, Heather Wallace, Bettina Grasl-KrauppKonrad Grob, André Penninks, Marco Binaglia, Ruth Roldán Torres, Christiane Vleminckx, EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM)

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Abstract

Shipping of edible fats and oils into Europe is permitted in bulk tanks, provided that the previous cargo is included in a positive list. The European Commission requested EFSA to evaluate the acceptability as previous cargoes for fats and oils the substances calcium lignosulphonate, methyl acetate, ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) and ammonium sulphate. The evaluation was based on the same criteria as those used for the evaluation of the substances currently on the list in the Annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils. Methyl acetate and ETBE meet the criteria for acceptability as previous cargoes. Due to uncertainties, mainly with regard to the composition and toxicity of the low molecular mass fraction, and the fact that the toxicological database is limited to the 40–65 grade and does not cover all grades of calcium lignosulphonate shipped as previous cargoes, the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) concluded that calcium lignosulphonate does not meet the criteria for acceptability as a previous cargo. Only food-grade ammonium sulphate meets the criteria for acceptability as a previous cargo due to uncertainties about impurities in other (non-food) grades.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere04656
JournalEFSA Journal
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Jan 2017

Bibliographical note

The Panel wishes to thank the members of the Working Group on acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils – Previous cargoes 2016: Bettina Grasl-Kraupp, Konrad Grob, André Penninks and Christiane Vleminckx and EFSA staff members: Marco Binaglia and Ruth Roldán Torres. The Panel acknowledges the European Chemicals Agency that provided data on ammonium sulphate.

Keywords

  • acceptable previous cargo
  • edible fats and oils
  • sea transport
  • calcium lignosulphonate
  • methyl acetate
  • ethyl tert-butyl ether
  • ammonium sulphate

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