The European Commission has circulated a draft legal proposal concerning the conditions of use and specifications for sulfur dioxide/sulfites. The proposal would significantly reduce the maximum levels (MLs) for sulfites in several dried fruit categories. In fact, several of the proposed MLs are lower than the levels previously assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in its updated assessment of the dietary exposure to sulfur dioxide/sulfites, published in November 2025.
The proposed MLs include the following:
Dried apricots: 1,000 mg/kg (from 2,000 mg/kg)
Dried white grapes (golden raisins only): 800 mg/kg (from 2,000 mg/kg)
Dried fruit, excluding dried mango, pineapple, apples, pears, bananas, apricots, peaches, white grapes, prunes and figs: 150 mg/kg (from 500 mg/kg)
Dried coconut: 50 mg/kg
Dried mango and pineapple: 300 mg/kg
Dried apples and pears: 300 mg/kg (from 600 mg/kg)
Dried bananas: 300 mg/kg (from 1,000 mg/kg)
Dried peaches: 300 mg/kg (from 2,000 mg/kg)
In addition, the existing entry for dried figs, which establishes an ML of 2,000 mg/kg, is deleted in the proposal but not replaced by a revised ML.
Given the importance of this issue, INC members are encouraged to engage with their national associations and relevant government ministries to communicate that the proposed reductions could have significant adverse impacts on the industry and to call for additional time to ensure that any changes are supported by a thorough, science-based assessment.
INC members are invited to contact us with their comments and input on this issue by September 30, 2026.