FAO/WHO Call for Data on Aflatoxins in Cereals Inform Codex Maximum Levels
The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has issued a call for occurrence data on total aflatoxins in cereals and cereal-based foods.
The request followed discussions at the 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF19) in 2026. The data will support CCCF in determining whether existing maximum levels (MLs) for total aflatoxins in certain commodities remain appropriate or require revision, as well as assessing the need for and feasibility of establishing MLs for additional cereals and grains.
Specifically, JECFA has requested occurrence data collected from January 1, 2022 onward for commodities with existing MLs under the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193-1995), including:
- Maize grain and derived products, including flour, meal, semolina, and flakes
- Husked and polished rice
- Sorghum grain intended for further processing
- Cereal-based foods for infants and young children.
JECFA has also requested occurrence data collected from January 1, 2016 onward for commodities which have no established total aflatoxin MLs under CXS 193-1995, including:
- Wheat and wheat-derived products
- Other cereals, including barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, rye, spelt, and quinoa.
The requested data concern aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2. JECFA has specified preferred analytical limits of quantification (LOQs) for each commodity category, ranging from 0.5–5 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg). However, all submitted data from the specified reporting periods will be considered, regardless of LOQ, taking into account analytical suitability and data quality.
The deadline for data submissions is March 31, 2027. More information about the call for data and how to respond can be accessed here.
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