On October 3, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued document 2023.8372, which published the results of the target risk assessment for the maximum residue of nicotine in plant-based spices. The main evaluation results are as follows:

(1) In accordance with Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has been commissioned by the Commission to carry out a targeted risk assessment of the maximum residual amount (MRL) of nicotine in plant-based seasonings. based on new monitoring data provided by the European Commission, EFSA has carried out acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) dietary risk assessments, taking into account the ingestion of nicotine through residues in plant-based spices at levels equivalent to the provisional maximum residue Limit (tMRL) of 0.3 mg/kg recommended by the European Commission. based on the results of the risk assessment, EFSA concluded that the provisional MRLS of 0.3mg/kg for plant-based spices were unlikely to pose a risk to consumer health;

(2) As EFSA has not found that the proposed 0.3mg/kg MRL for nicotine in plant-based spices presents an unacceptable risk, there is no need to advise risk managers on alternative MRLS for plant-based spices as set out in point 2 of the Terms of reference. However, EFSA recommends investigating the root causes of the presence of nicotine in the relevant commodities and, where possible, developing strategies to avoid or reduce nicotine residues in plant-based seasonings for possible future reductions in MRLS. Some of the evaluation summaries and recommendations are shown in the table below (" * "stands for MRLS set at or near detection limits) :