The draft National Technical Regulation QCVN 8-1:2026/BYT establishes maximum levels (MLs) for six groups of mycotoxins in food, namely aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and total fumonisins. While maintaining the same six groups of mycotoxins regulated under QCVN 8-1:2011/BYT, the draft updates and expands the scope of regulated food categories and revises certain maximum levels to harmonize with relevant international standards. The main amendments include:
• Aflatoxins: expansion to 21 food categories, including eight new categories based on Codex standards 2025, one category for foods intended for infants and young children based on Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, and a more detailed classification of oilseeds;
• Ochratoxin A: expansion to 25 food categories, including three new categories based on Codex standards 2025, twelve categories based on Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, and revised maximum levels for dried grapes and dried figs, roasted and ground coffee, instant coffee, and dried spices;
• Deoxynivalenol: revision of maximum levels for cereals intended for further processing, inclusion of wheat, maize and barley flour, and addition of foods intended for infants and young children and foods for special medical purposes for infants and young children;
• Total fumonisins: inclusion of maize flour as an additional regulated food category in accordance with Codex standards 2025;
• Patulin and zearalenone: maintenance of the existing scope of regulated food categories, with updated definitions for foods intended for infants and young children to align with Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
The draft national technical regulation applies to:
• Organizations and individuals importing, producing, and trading food products at risk of mycotoxin contamination;
• Related organizations and individuals.
The Draft Circular Promulgating the National Technical Regulation QCVN 8-1:2026/BYT on the limits of mycotoxins contamination in food specifies transitional provisions as follows:
• Food products that have been granted a Product Declaration Registration Certificate or have undergone self-declaration before the effective date of this Circular, if they do not conform to the standards issued with this Circular, may continue to be imported, traded, and distributed until the product's expiration date, except in cases where there is a food safety warning;
• Applications for product declaration/self-declaration submitted before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to be processed according to the regulations in effect at the time of submission;
• From the effective date of this Circular, for products that have been granted a Certificate of Acceptance of Product Declaration Registration or have undergone self-declaration, if the Manufacturer's Standard is not in accordance with the regulations issued with this Circular, the organization or individual shall adjust the Manufacturer's Standard to conform to the regulations and notify as prescribed in Clause 4, Article 5 and Clause 4, Article 8 of Government Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP dated 2 February 2018, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Food Safety
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