Comparison of Aflatoxin Limits in Indian Food Law with EU Standards
The maximum permissible limit for aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, etc.) contents in all food commodities for sale in Indian market is 30 ^/kg or ppb, while the tolerance value for aflatoxins M in milk is 0.5 ^/kg. If these aflatoxins limits in Indian food commodities, as per FSSR 2011, are compared with European Union (EU) standards, the EU regulation looks much more stringent. In detail, EU regulations are considered among the stringiest food laws if compared with Indian regulations and those of other countries, around 100 in number, which have regulations governing aflatoxins in food and feed.
The EU sets limits for aflatoxin B1 and for total aflatoxins in nuts, dried fruits, cereals and spices. Limits vary according to commodity and range from 2 to 12 ^/kg for B1 and from 4 to 15 ^/kg for total aflatoxins. There is also a limit of 0.050 ^/kg for aflatoxin Bj and Mj in milk and milk products in EU regulations. Maximum aflatoxin B1 and M1 limits for infant foods in EU regulations are 0.10 and 0.025 ^/kg, respectively (Lawley 2013).
The EU regulation permits the maximum total aflatoxin contamination limit varying from 4 to 15 ^/kg (general commodities), while total aflatoxin limit for all commodities is 30 ^/kg in India. Therefore, food commodities (with the exclusion of milk), in India may legally have aflatoxin contamination as high as 2-7.5 times that similar food articles in Europe. Indian milk may legally be 10 times more contaminated than EU milk when speaking of aflatoxin Mj (0.5 versus 0.05 ppb).
