Nitrites and nitrates: changes to limits introduced by Reg. (EU) 2023/2108

CEIRSA has published an in-depth study on the new limits of nitrites and nitrates introduced by EU Regulation 2023/2018 which modifies Annex II of EC Regulation 1333/2008 and the Annex of EU Regulation 231/2012 regarding the food additives nitrites (E 249-250) and nitrates (E 251-252) in meat products, processed fishery products and milk products.

Starting from October 9, 2025 (and from October 9, 2026 for some milk products), stricter limits for the use of nitrites and nitrates will come into force , compared to the current ones.

The new provisions focus mainly on four aspects:

• the reduction of addition limits ,
• the introduction of the maximum residual dose for “non-heat-treated meat products” and for “heat-treated meat products”,
• the modification of the methods of expressing the quantities (which will have to be indicated as NO2— and NO3— ions, rather than as NaNO2, KNO2, NaNO3, KNO3 salts), and finally
• the extension of the new maximum limits also to PDO and PGI products.

This regulatory review was made necessary by the recent risk assessment conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the use of these additives (EFSA Journal 2023; 21(3):7884), in particular with regard to the formation of nitrosamines.

The update represents a significant step in regulation, aimed at protecting consumer health, reducing risks related to these substances and ensuring greater transparency in the food sector. (Source: https://www.ceirsa.org/ )