EFSA's opinion on the temporary LMRs for nicotine

The European Commission has been informed by the European Tea Committee (ETC) and by the European Herbal Infusions Association (EHIA) that tea and herbal infusions raw material produced in Europe and in Third Countries may contain levels of nicotine higher than the legal limit established in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (MRL fixed by default to 0.01mg/kg).

Presence of nicotine in these products can have various origins: contamination of crops produced in regions where tobacco is produced, contamination during drying, storage or transport.

Further to analysis of a large number of samples, EFSA suggests to fix the following LMRs:

- 0.3 mg/kg for rose hips
- 0.4 mg/kg for fresh herbs
- 0.6 mg/kg for tea (Camellia sinensis)
- 4 mg/kg for camomile
- 0.5 mg/kg for herbals infusions other than camomile
- 0.3 mg/kg for spices (seeds, fruits et berries)
- 4 mg/kg for spices (bark, roots and rhizome)

These MRLs aren’t integrated for the moment into regulation 396/2005 but Phytocontrol is capable to propose you analysis of Nicotine on these products.

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