Decree n. 42 of 1 April 2022 on the adoption of an Ordinance on the requirements for the use of extraction solvents in the production of food and food ingredients.

This Decree, based on the provisions of the Bulgarian Law on food, adopts the Ordinance on the requirements for the use of extraction solvents in the production of food and food ingredients (which introduces specific European Union requirements as listed in item 2 of the Chapter “Additional provisions”). The Ordinance determines: 1. the types of extraction solvents that can be used in production of food and food ingredients; 2. the criteria for purity of the extraction solvents; 3. the maximum admissible quantities of residues of extraction solvents in or on foods or food ingredients; 4. the information related to solvents, which shall be noted on the packaging of the products and in the accompanying documentation. Extraction solvent means a solvent used for the extraction of substances in an extraction process during the processing of raw materials, foodstuffs or food ingredients, after which it is removed. In this process, residues of the solvent or its degradation products may remain in or on food or food ingredients inadvertently for technically unavoidable reasons. Extraction solvents which may be used in the manufacture of foodstuffs and food ingredients are listed in Annex 1. Extraction solvents referred to in Annex 2 may be used in the manufacture of foodstuffs and food ingredients under specified conditions and maximum residue levels. Extraction solvents intended for the extraction of flavorings from natural flavoring substances may be used as solvents or diluents for flavorings in the manufacture of foodstuffs under the conditions laid down in Annex 3.