The Commission lists polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among the processing contaminants for which the EU sets maximum levels, for benzo(a)pyrene and for the sum of four PAH, in Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
156 notifications since 1 January 2020 named polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), under 1% of all EU notifications in that time. 27 in the 365 days to 8 November 2026, against 20 in the 365 days before, up 35%. 10% were border rejections and 70% had a serious risk decision.
The origins named most often were China (23), Poland (13) and Germany (11). The product categories named most often were herbs and spices (41), fats and oils (27) and food supplements and dietetic foods (24). The products named most often were food supplements (11), cocoa (9) and smoked fish (9).
Explainer sources, checked 18 October 2026: Contaminants, European Commission; Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on contaminants, consolidated text of 19 August 2026, Annex I.
Counts start on 1 January 2020 and run to 8 November 2026, the day the list was last read. A notification that names two countries of origin counts for each. Findings come from our word list matched against the EU subject line, which is never shown; 96% of all notifications match it, the rest count as other finding. Each reference links to the official record on RASFF Window. How this works.
Latest notifications that named polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
The newest 25 of 156, newest first, each built from fixed word lists. The reference opens the official record.
- Alert notified by Poland: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in cocoa from Germany and Poland, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9885, validated 6 November 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in vegetable oil from Ukraine, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9728, validated 2 November 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Italy: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in pangasius from Myanmar, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9116, validated 14 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Italy: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in shrimps and prawns from Myanmar, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8444, validated 23 September 2026.
- Alert notified by France: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in coconut oil from India, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.8187, validated 16 September 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in herbs or spices from Poland, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.8216, validated 16 September 2026.
- Alert notified by Belgium: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sunflower oil from France, risk decision serious, reference 2026.7923, validated 8 September 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in spice mixes from Spain, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6076, validated 8 July 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Belgium: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and Sudan dyes in palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire, risk decision serious, reference 2026.5841, validated 1 July 2026.
- Alert notified by Latvia: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in food supplements from Ukraine, risk decision serious, reference 2026.5432, validated 19 June 2026.
- Alert notified by Belgium: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.5091, validated 9 June 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in herring from Canada, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4949, validated 5 June 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Ireland: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sausages from Poland, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.4507, validated 21 May 2026.
- Alert notified by Poland: pesticide residues and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in cocoa from Bulgaria, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3758, validated 29 April 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in dried herbs from Poland, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3544, validated 23 April 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a food supplement from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3255, validated 16 April 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Ireland: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in food supplements from the United Kingdom, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.3202, validated 15 April 2026.
- Alert notified by Austria: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in vegetable oil from Germany, risk decision serious, reference 2026.1960, validated 9 March 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and foreign bodies in wheat from Belgium, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.1497, validated 23 February 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a food supplement from the United States, risk decision serious, reference 2026.0859, validated 2 February 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: anthraquinone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in tea from Argentina, risk decision serious, reference 2026.0586, validated 23 January 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Hungary: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in herbs or spices from Slovakia, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2025.10475, validated 30 December 2025.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in tea from Czechia, risk decision not serious, reference 2025.10036, validated 30 December 2025.
- Border rejection notified by the Netherlands: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in shrimps and prawns from Indonesia, risk decision serious, reference 2025.10159, validated 17 December 2025.
- Border rejection notified by the Netherlands: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in smoked fish from Indonesia, risk decision serious, reference 2025.10160, validated 17 December 2025.
Other process and environmental contaminants: mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH, MOAH), 3 MCPD and glycidyl esters, dioxins and PCBs.
The numbers
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 25 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 24 |
| 2026 (to 8 Nov 2026) | 21 |
| Type | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Border rejection | 16 | 10% |
| Alert | 75 | 48% |
| Information for follow up | 22 | 14% |
| Information for attention | 43 | 28% |
| Risk decision | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 109 | 70% |
| Potentially serious | 20 | 13% |
| Potential risk | 12 | 8% |
| Not serious | 9 | 6% |
| Undecided | 6 | 4% |
| Product | Notifications |
|---|---|
| Food supplements | 11 |
| Cocoa | 9 |
| Smoked fish | 9 |
| Vegetable oil | 8 |
| Sausages | 7 |
| Sunflower oil | 7 |
| Black or white pepper | 5 |
| Ginger | 5 |
| Tea | 5 |
| Coconut oil | 4 |
| Origin | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | 23 | 15% |
| Poland | 13 | 8% |
| Germany | 11 | 7% |
| Ghana | 9 | 6% |
| Belgium | 7 | 4% |
| India | 7 | 4% |
| Türkiye | 7 | 4% |
| France | 6 | 4% |
| Indonesia | 6 | 4% |
| Ukraine | 6 | 4% |
| Spain | 5 | 3% |
| United States | 5 | 3% |
| Product category | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Herbs and spices | 41 | 26% |
| Fats and oils | 27 | 17% |
| Food supplements and dietetic foods | 24 | 15% |
| Cocoa, coffee and tea | 16 | 10% |
| Fish and fish products | 16 | 10% |
| Cereals and bakery products | 11 | 7% |
| Meat other than poultry | 10 | 6% |
| Crustaceans | 2 | 1% |
| Other and mixed food products | 2 | 1% |
| Feed materials | 1 | under 1% |
| Fruit and vegetables | 1 | under 1% |
| Milk and milk products | 1 | under 1% |
| Notifying country | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 41 | 26% |
| Germany | 30 | 19% |
| Belgium | 18 | 12% |
| Poland | 11 | 7% |
| Ireland | 8 | 5% |
| Austria | 6 | 4% |
| Slovakia | 6 | 4% |
| Latvia | 5 | 3% |
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