Meeting

Second draft statement on the risk for T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins in food

Annex A to TOX/2025/40

Last updated: 09 October 2025

Background

1. In 2020, the European Commission (EC) proposed establishing maximum levels (ML) for the mycotoxins T-2 and HT-2 in foods, which were lower than the current indicative levels set out in the European Commission Recommendation 2013/165/EU. Following the proposal, maximum levels came into force in the European Union (EU) on the 1^st of July 2024. These maximum levels were established for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins only. Maximum levels were not established for the modified forms of T-2 and HT-2 (such as neosolaniol (NEO) or 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)) due to limited occurrence data, and the absence of a suitable routine method available for their analysis.

2. In light of the new EU maximum levels, the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) was asked by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to assess the risk to UK consumers from T-2 and HT-2 in foods. T-2 and HT-2 were previously assessed by the COT in 2018 (COT, 2018) and 2021 (COT, 2021), reviewing their presence in the diet of infants and young children and the potential implications of combined mycotoxin exposure, respectively. As part of this work, the COT considered “the existing health-based guidance values (HBGVs) for T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)” in February 2023 (TOX/2023/04). Following discussions at the February 2023 meeting, the COT concluded that they continued to be content, based on the scientific evidence, to align with the HBGVs derived by EFSA. Notably, the values of the HBGVs are almost identical between the two regulatory authorities.

3. To assist the COT with the assessment of the risk of T-2 and HT-2 from food in the UK, the FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) undertook a call for evidence from July 2023 to October 2023. The data call focussed on the collection of data from the cereals supply chain, from field level to ready to eat (RTE) food products. While T-2 and HT-2 have been detected in products of animal origin (POAO), likely as a result of contamination of feed (EFSA, 2017), occurrence data for meat and dairy products were not included in the data call by the FSA/FSS and hence were not assessed in the present review. A discussion paper, focussing on the exposure from T-2 and HT-2 in grains was presented to the COT in July 2024 (TOX/2024/24) and in March 2025 (TOX/2025/14), following feedback from the Committee.

4. In July 2025, the first draft statement on the risk for T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins in food (focussing on exposure from consumption of cereal grains and, where available, products thereof) was presented to the COT (TOX/2025/26). At the meeting, the COT asked for clarification on the time trend analysis and for additional detail to be incorporated in the background/toxicity sections. The COT further asked for the exposure section to be revisited to ensure the data were clearly described. The requested changes have been incorporated into the following second draft statement (Annex A). The full tables of exposure are provided as supplementary information in Annex B.

5. For further background information, please see the following references:

COT (2018) Statement of T-2 toxin (T2), HT-2 toxin (HT2) and neosolaniol (NEO) in the diet of infants aged 0 to 12 months and children aged 1 to 5 years.

COT (2021) Statement on the potential risk(s) of combined exposure to mycotoxins.

TOX/2023/04 Discussion paper on existing health-based guidance values (HBGVs) for T2 & HT2 mycotoxins.

TOX/2024/24 Risk Assessment of T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins in Food.

TOX/2025/14 Risk Assessment of T-2 and HT-2 Mycotoxins in Food.

TOX/2025/26 First draft statement on the risk for T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins in food.