Europe: Draft text on Hydroxyanthracene Derivatives (HAD) voted by the Member States

The draft Commission Regulation (EU) amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) 1925/2006 as regards botanical species containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives (proposing in part A: the ban of preparations from the leaf of Aloe species containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives and of the substances aloe-emodin, emodin and danthron (and all preparations in which these substances are present), and in part C: the placing under Union scrutiny of other plants containing HAD) has been voted positively by the Member States by written procedure. The summary report of the Standing Committee “General Food Law” on 5 October 2020 gives also the following information on the limits of quantification (LOQs) for HADs:

  • The level of 1ppm for aloe-emodin/emodin and the level of 1 ppm for the sum of aloin A and aloin B are for the time being the lowest levels that can be reliably quantified in laboratories across the EU and can therefore be put forward as limits of quantification in an EU harmonised risk management approach.
  • Products ready for use after preparation in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions containing an analysed level higher than or equal to 1 ppm aloe-emodin and/or 1 ppm emodin and/or 1 ppm aloin A + aloin B provide clear evidence of presence of these substances in the products and are therefore of concern for public health. 
  • The LOQs apply to the product ready for use after preparation in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Next step: This draft text has been sent to the European Parliament for a 3-month period for scrutiny procedure. The final text may be published in the Official Journal of the European Union at the end of the first quarter of 2021.