Scientific Opinion on 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 – Part I of III

Shipping of edible fats and oils into Europe is permitted in bulk tanks, in which substances, included in a positive list, had been previously transported. The European Commission requested EFSA to evaluate the list of substances in the Annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils, taking into account its review of the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) criteria for acceptable previous cargoes and criteria proposed by the Codex Committee for Fats and Oils. This is the first of three scientific opinions by the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel), in which thirteen of these substances have been evaluated. The CONTAM Panel concluded that phosphoric acid, ammonium polyphosphate, benzyl alcohol (pharmaceutical and reagent grades only), epoxidised soyabean oil (with a minimum 7 % - maximum 8 % oxirane oxygen content), ethyl acetate, 2-ethylhexanol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4 butanediol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol (molecular weight greater than 400), methanol and ethanol, would not be of health concern as previous cargoes. In the case of calcium lignosulphonate, there was sufficient information available for the CONTAM Panel to conclude that the risk from short-term exposure to this substance itself, when used as a previous cargo, would not give rise to any toxicological concern. However, the product varies markedly in composition, there is no information on potential impurities, nor is there information on its potential reactivity with fats and oils. The CONTAM Panel therefore concluded that calcium lignosulphonate does not meet the criteria for acceptability as a previous cargo.