Sudan dyes are dyes that may not be used in food. They are among the risks for which the EU sets special import conditions in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793.
77 notifications since 1 January 2020 named Sudan dyes, under 1% of all EU notifications in that time. 11 in the 365 days to 8 November 2026, against 8 in the 365 days before, up 38%. 42% were border rejections and 88% had a serious risk decision.
The origins named most often were Ghana (19), Türkiye (14) and Côte d'Ivoire (9). The product categories named most often were fats and oils (38), herbs and spices (33) and soups, sauces and condiments (5). The products named most often were palm oil (33), sumac (7) and curry powder (5).
Explainer sources, checked 18 October 2026: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, consolidated text of 30 June 2026, Annexes I and II; Food colours, EFSA.
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 Sudan dyes
The newest 25 of 77, newest first, each built from fixed word lists. The reference opens the official record.
- Alert notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Guinea, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9568, validated 27 October 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: Sudan dyes in sumac from Türkiye, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9343, validated 20 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: Sudan dyes in a fat or oil from Nigeria, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8449, validated 23 September 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Latvia: Sudan dyes in spice mixes from Uzbekistan, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6276, validated 14 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.
- Information for attention notified by Latvia: Sudan dyes in sauces from Russia, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4496, validated 21 May 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Nigeria, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4108, validated 11 May 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Greece: Sudan dyes in chilli powder from Lebanon, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3564, validated 24 April 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire, risk decision serious, reference 2026.2934, validated 7 April 2026.
- Alert notified by Italy: Sudan dyes in flavourings from Germany, risk decision serious, reference 2026.0872, validated 2 February 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Nigeria, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.0331, validated 15 January 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Guinea, risk decision serious, reference 2025.8159, validated 22 October 2025.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: Sudan dyes in curry powder from the Netherlands, risk decision potential risk, reference 2025.6564, validated 27 August 2025.
- Information for attention notified by Germany: Sudan dyes and illegal import or unapproved establishment in sumac from Egypt, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2025.5277, validated 11 July 2025.
- Alert notified by Latvia: Sudan dyes in spice mixes from Uzbekistan, risk decision serious, reference 2025.5186, validated 8 July 2025.
- Border rejection notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire, risk decision serious, reference 2025.4696, validated 24 June 2025.
- Information for attention notified by Germany: Sudan dyes in herbs or spices from Syria, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2025.1676, validated 7 March 2025.
- Border rejection notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire, risk decision serious, reference 2025.1420, validated 28 February 2025.
- Border rejection notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire, risk decision serious, reference 2025.1300, validated 24 February 2025.
- Information for attention notified by Germany: Sudan dyes in curry powder from Türkiye, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2024.6083, validated 8 August 2024.
- Information for attention notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in curry powder from Türkiye, risk decision serious, reference 2024.5334, validated 12 July 2024.
- Alert notified by Latvia: Sudan dyes in chilli powder from Afghanistan, risk decision serious, reference 2024.5244, validated 9 July 2024.
- Alert notified by Belgium: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Guinea, risk decision serious, reference 2024.5011, validated 1 July 2024.
- Border rejection notified by Latvia: Sudan dyes in a sauce or condiment from Russia, risk decision serious, reference 2024.4118, validated 28 May 2024.
- Border rejection notified by Italy: Sudan dyes in palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire, risk decision serious, reference 2024.3468, validated 30 April 2024.
Other additives and colours: an unauthorised additive, unauthorised colours, vitamins, minerals or other nutrients above safe levels.
The numbers
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 (to 8 Nov 2026) | 11 |
| Type | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Border rejection | 32 | 42% |
| Alert | 23 | 30% |
| Information for follow up | 2 | 3% |
| Information for attention | 20 | 26% |
| Risk decision | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 68 | 88% |
| Potentially serious | 4 | 5% |
| Potential risk | 3 | 4% |
| Undecided | 2 | 3% |
| Product | Notifications |
|---|---|
| Palm oil | 33 |
| Sumac | 7 |
| Curry powder | 5 |
| Paprika | 4 |
| Spice mixes | 4 |
| Chilli powder | 3 |
| Sauces | 3 |
| Spices | 3 |
| Chillies | 2 |
| Vegetable oil | 2 |
| Origin | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana | 19 | 25% |
| Türkiye | 14 | 18% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 9 | 12% |
| Russia | 6 | 8% |
| Guinea | 5 | 6% |
| Nigeria | 4 | 5% |
| Uzbekistan | 4 | 5% |
| Lebanon | 2 | 3% |
| Senegal | 2 | 3% |
| Syria | 2 | 3% |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 1% |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 1% |
| Product category | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fats and oils | 38 | 49% |
| Herbs and spices | 33 | 43% |
| Soups, sauces and condiments | 5 | 6% |
| Food additives and flavourings | 1 | 1% |
| Notifying country | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 26 | 34% |
| Germany | 13 | 17% |
| Latvia | 12 | 16% |
| Italy | 9 | 12% |
| Netherlands | 9 | 12% |
| Switzerland | 5 | 6% |
| Austria | 1 | 1% |
| France | 1 | 1% |
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