8. Safety Parameters

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General Foods
EU

This section provides the safety parameters (microbiological, contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides, veterinary residues, and food contact materials).

8.1 Microbiological Standards

Provision, Limits, Testing Methods

Foodstuffs/General Foods

Two types of microbiological criteria are set out in Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 [1] (as amended) and include criteria for both pathogens and indicator organisms by specific food categories:

• Food safety criteria defining the acceptability of a product or a batch. They are applicable to foodstuffs placed on the market and throughout the shelf-life of the food.

• Process hygiene criteria defining the acceptability of the process. These apply only during the manufacturing process.

There are no criteria for generic foods.

8.2 Contaminants and Heavy Metals

	Provision, Limits, Testing Methods
Foodstuffs/General Foods	According to Regulation (EU) 2023/915 [2].

8.3 Pesticides

	Provision, Limits, Testing Methods
Foodstuffs/General Foods	According to Regulation (EC) 396/2005 [3], maximum residue levels of pesticides in food are defined, and apply to agricultural commodities. The EU has a database of pesticides [4] with their Maximum Residue Levels in food products.