Webinar on the safety of technical hexane used as an extraction solvent for food and food ingredients

Background

‘Hexane’ (hereafter referred to as technical hexane) is authorised by Directive 2009/32/EC to be used for the extraction of food and food ingredients. It is defined as ‘a commercial product consisting essentially of acyclic saturated hydrocarbons containing six carbon atoms and distilling between 64 °C and 70 °C’. Conditions of use are specified in Parts II and III of Annex I to Directive 2009/32/EC.

In a 2024 report, EFSA concluded that a re-evaluation is needed regarding the safety of using technical hexane as an extraction solvent in the production of food and food ingredients.

On 23 May 2025, EFSA received a mandate from the European Commission requesting the re-evaluation of the safety of the use of technical hexane as an extraction solvents in the production of food and food ingredients. Therefore, in June 2025 EFSA will publish a public call for data to gather documented information (both published and unpublished) concerning the identity and use of technical hexane, its residues in food, and its toxicological properties.

Objectives of the webinar

The purpose of this webinar was to engage with interested parties and stakeholders who wish to contribute to the assessment. It serves as an opportunity for EFSA to present the forthcoming call for data aimed at collecting relevant documentation to support the evaluation.

Contact

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