During the European Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (Section Novel Food and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain) of 24 March 2022, the Member States voted positively the draft Commission Regulation (EU) amending the Annex to Regulation (EU) 231/2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as regards the presence of ethylene oxide in food additives. 

The draft text sets out a maximum limit for residues of ethylene oxide, irrespective of its origin, at 0,1 mg/kg (sum of ethylene oxide and 2-chloro-ethanol expressed as ethylene oxide) applicable to all food additives. 

The final text should be published during the summer 2022 (scrutiny period) and it shall apply 20 days after its publication.