Food Quality and Safety Standards Reference

Regulation (EC) No 178/2002

The EU General Food Law. Sets the principles of food safety, operator responsibility and one-step-back, one-step-forward traceability.

Regulation (EC) No 852/2004

EU rules on the hygiene of foodstuffs, including the requirement for food business operators to apply procedures based on HACCP principles.

Relevant to: Tomato Paste, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Dried Vegetables, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Pickles, Table Olives, Jams and Sauces, Frozen Fruits and Vegetables, Fruit Juice Concentrates and 13 more

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005

Microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, covering food safety criteria such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes and process hygiene criteria.

Relevant to: Strawberries, Lettuce and Spinach, Mushrooms, Dried Mulberries, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Almonds, Walnuts and 21 more

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915

Maximum levels for certain contaminants in food, including mycotoxins, heavy metals, 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Replaced Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006.

Relevant to: Lettuce and Spinach, Dried Apricots, Dried Figs, Sultana Raisins, Dried Mulberries, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Almonds and 22 more

Regulation (EC) No 396/2005

Maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin. MRLs are amended frequently and should be checked in the EU Pesticides Database.

Relevant to: Cherries, Sour Cherries, Fresh Apricots, Fresh Figs, Table Grapes, Apples, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums and 41 more

Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006

Methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of mycotoxin levels in foodstuffs. It defines incremental and aggregate sample sizes by lot weight.

Relevant to: Dried Apricots, Dried Figs, Sultana Raisins, Dried Mulberries, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Almonds, Walnuts

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures on certain food and feed from certain third countries. Several Turkish products have appeared in its annexes; the annexes are revised regularly, so the current version must be checked before shipment.

Relevant to: Lemons, Peppers, Dried Figs, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Almonds, Walnuts

Regulation (EU) 2017/625

The EU Official Controls Regulation, governing border controls on food and feed entering the Union.

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011

Food information to consumers: mandatory labelling particulars, allergen emphasis, nutrition declaration and origin rules.

Relevant to: Dried Apricots, Dried Figs, Sultana Raisins, Dried Mulberries, Tomato Paste, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Dried Vegetables, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Pickles and 17 more

Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008

EU rules on food additives, including permitted uses and maximum levels such as those for sulphites in dried fruit.

Relevant to: Dried Apricots, Sultana Raisins, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Dried Vegetables, Pickles, Table Olives, Jams and Sauces, Confectionery

Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and (EU) No 10/2011

General requirements for food contact materials and specific rules for plastic food contact materials, including migration limits.

Relevant to: Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil, Canned Fruits and Vegetables

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429

EU marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables, applying from 1 January 2025 and replacing the marketing standard provisions of Regulation (EU) No 543/2011.

Relevant to: Cherries, Sour Cherries, Fresh Apricots, Fresh Figs, Table Grapes, Apples, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums and 20 more

UNECE standards for fresh fruit and vegetables

Commercial quality standards (FFV series) defining classes, minimum requirements, sizing and tolerances. Widely used as the reference in sales contracts.

Relevant to: Cherries, Sour Cherries, Fresh Apricots, Fresh Figs, Table Grapes, Apples, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums and 20 more

OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme

OECD explanatory brochures and inspection guidance that interpret UNECE and EU standards with photographs, used by inspectors to apply defect tolerances consistently.

Relevant to: Cherries, Sour Cherries, Fresh Apricots, Fresh Figs, Table Grapes, Apples, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums and 20 more

Regulation (EU) 2016/2031

The EU Plant Health Regulation. Determines which plants and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate and which pests are regulated.

Relevant to: Cherries, Sour Cherries, Fresh Apricots, Fresh Figs, Table Grapes, Apples, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums and 26 more

ISPM 15

International standard for treatment and marking of wood packaging material such as pallets.

UNECE standards for dry and dried produce

Commercial quality standards (DDP series) for products such as dried apricots, dried figs, raisins, hazelnuts and pistachios, including moisture and defect tolerances.

Relevant to: Dried Apricots, Dried Figs, Sultana Raisins, Dried Mulberries, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Almonds, Walnuts

ISO 2859-1

Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes, indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL). Common for packed and processed food in cartons.

Relevant to: Sour Cherries, Tomato Paste, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Dried Vegetables, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Pickles, Table Olives, Jams and Sauces, Frozen Fruits and Vegetables and 8 more

ISO 24333

Sampling of cereals and cereal products, covering static and moving lots.

Relevant to: Wheat, Wheat Flour, Bulgur, Barley, Corn (Maize), Rice, Lentils, Chickpeas and 2 more

ISO 948

Sampling of spices and condiments.

Relevant to: Spices and Herbs

GAFTA contracts and sampling rules

Grain and Feed Trade Association standard contracts and sampling rules, used for grains, pulses and feed ingredients traded internationally.

Relevant to: Wheat, Wheat Flour, Bulgur, Barley, Corn (Maize), Rice, Lentils, Chickpeas and 8 more

FOSFA contracts

Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations contracts and operational rules for vegetable oils, oilseeds and oilseed meals.

Relevant to: Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil, Sunflower Meal, Soybean Meal, Cottonseed Meal, Wheat Bran, Corn Gluten Feed, DDGS and 6 more

ICA Bylaws and Rules

International Cotton Association rules covering raw cotton trade, sampling and quality arbitration.

Relevant to: Cotton, Cottonseed, Oilseeds, Seeds, Agricultural By-Products

Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969)

The international reference for good hygiene practices and the HACCP system, revised in 2020.

Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins (CXS 193-1995)

Codex maximum levels for contaminants and natural toxins in food and feed, referenced by many importing countries outside the EU.

Relevant to: Dried Figs

Codex Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils (CXS 33-1981)

Codex grade definitions and quality and purity criteria for olive oils.

Relevant to: Olive Oil

Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999)

Composition and quality factors for vegetable oils such as sunflower, cottonseed and corn oil.

Relevant to: Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil

Codex Standard for Processed Tomato Concentrates (CXS 57-1981)

Definitions and quality factors for tomato puree and paste.

Relevant to: Tomato Paste

Codex Standard for Table Olives (CXS 66-1981)

Types, trade preparations, styles and quality criteria for table olives.

Relevant to: Table Olives

Codex Standard for Honey (CXS 12-1981)

Composition and quality factors for honey, including moisture, sugars, HMF and diastase activity.

Relevant to: Honey

Codex Standard for Wheat and Durum Wheat (CXS 199-1995)

Quality and safety factors for wheat and durum wheat.

Relevant to: Wheat, Wheat Flour, Bulgur

Codex Standard for Certain Pulses (CXS 171-1989)

Quality factors and defect tolerances for dry pulses such as lentils, chickpeas and beans.

Relevant to: Lentils, Chickpeas, Dry Beans

Codex General Standard for Fruit Juices and Nectars (CXS 247-2005)

Definitions and minimum Brix levels for reconstituted juices, and rules on concentrates.

Relevant to: Sour Cherries, Fruit Juice Concentrates

IOC Trade Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils

International Olive Council grade limits, analytical methods and sensory assessment rules.

Relevant to: Olive Oil

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2104

EU marketing standards for olive oil, setting grade characteristics, labelling and conformity checks.

Relevant to: Olive Oil

IOC Trade Standard Applying to Table Olives

International Olive Council definitions, styles, size grading and defect tolerances for table olives.

Relevant to: Table Olives

Council Directive 2001/112/EC (as amended)

The EU Fruit Juice Directive governing juice, concentrate and nectar definitions and labelling.

Relevant to: Sour Cherries, Fruit Juice Concentrates

Council Directive 2001/110/EC (as amended)

The EU Honey Directive, recently amended to strengthen origin labelling for honey blends.

Relevant to: Honey

Directive 2002/32/EC

Undesirable substances in animal feed, including aflatoxin B1, heavy metals, free gossypol and dioxins.

Relevant to: Corn (Maize), Compound Animal Feed, Poultry Feed, Cattle and Dairy Feed, Sheep and Goat Feed, Aquaculture Feed, Pet Food, Feed Additives and Premixes and 10 more

Regulation (EC) No 183/2005

EU feed hygiene requirements, including registration or approval of feed businesses and HACCP-based procedures.

Relevant to: Compound Animal Feed, Poultry Feed, Cattle and Dairy Feed, Sheep and Goat Feed, Aquaculture Feed, Pet Food, Feed Additives and Premixes, Alfalfa, Hay and Forage and 8 more

Regulation (EC) No 767/2009

Placing on the market and use of feed, including labelling of feed materials and compound feed.

Relevant to: Compound Animal Feed, Poultry Feed, Cattle and Dairy Feed, Sheep and Goat Feed, Aquaculture Feed, Pet Food, Feed Additives and Premixes, Alfalfa, Hay and Forage

Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003

Authorisation, supervision and labelling of feed additives in the EU.

Relevant to: Poultry Feed, Feed Additives and Premixes

GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance

A widely used feed safety certification scheme. Many European feed buyers require GMP+ or an equivalent for suppliers and logistics.

Relevant to: Compound Animal Feed, Poultry Feed, Cattle and Dairy Feed, Sheep and Goat Feed, Aquaculture Feed, Pet Food, Feed Additives and Premixes, Alfalfa, Hay and Forage and 7 more

FAMI-QS

Certification scheme for specialty feed ingredients such as additives and premixes.

Relevant to: Feed Additives and Premixes

ISO 22000

International standard for food safety management systems.

FSSC 22000

A GFSI-recognised certification scheme built on ISO 22000 and sector prerequisite programmes.

Relevant to: Tomato Paste, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Dried Vegetables, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Pickles, Table Olives, Jams and Sauces, Frozen Fruits and Vegetables, Fruit Juice Concentrates and 7 more

BRCGS Food Safety

A GFSI-recognised standard widely required by UK and European retailers.

Relevant to: Dried Apricots, Tomato Paste, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Dried Vegetables, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Pickles, Table Olives, Jams and Sauces, Frozen Fruits and Vegetables and 8 more

IFS Food

A GFSI-recognised standard widely required by German, French and Italian retailers.

Relevant to: Dried Apricots, Tomato Paste, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Dried Vegetables, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Pickles, Table Olives, Jams and Sauces, Frozen Fruits and Vegetables and 8 more

GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance

Farm-level certification for good agricultural practice, frequently required by European retailers for fresh produce.

Relevant to: Cherries, Sour Cherries, Fresh Apricots, Fresh Figs, Table Grapes, Apples, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums and 20 more

GRASP

The GLOBALG.A.P. add-on assessing social practices on farms.

Relevant to: Hazelnuts

US FDA FSMA rules

The Food Safety Modernization Act rules, including Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP), Preventive Controls and the Produce Safety Rule. US importers are responsible for verifying their foreign suppliers.

Relevant to: Spices and Herbs

FDA Food Traceability Rule (FSMA 204)

Additional traceability records for foods on the FDA Food Traceability List. FDA has extended the compliance date; check current FDA guidance.

GSO standards

GCC Standardization Organization standards applied in Gulf markets, including GSO 9 on labelling of prepackaged food and GSO 150 on expiration periods.

Relevant to: Wheat Flour, Confectionery, Biscuits, Cheese, Dairy Products, Honey, Eggs, Poultry Meat and 1 more

Halal requirements

Destination-specific halal requirements, for example GSO 2055-1 or OIC/SMIIC 1, applied to meat, poultry, gelatine-containing and other relevant products.

Relevant to: Confectionery, Chocolate, Biscuits, Cheese, Dairy Products, Honey, Eggs, Poultry Meat and 1 more

Turkish Food Codex

Regulations issued by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Largely aligned with EU food law, but buyers should not assume full equivalence for every limit.

ISTA International Rules for Seed Testing

Methods for seed sampling, purity, germination and moisture testing, with ISTA certificates for international trade.

Relevant to: Cotton, Cottonseed, Oilseeds, Seeds, Agricultural By-Products

ISO/IEC 17025

Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. We work with laboratories accredited to this standard for the specific methods required.