As of 22 December 2024, importers and manufacturers of oil and fat products (including sunflower, olive and other plant oils, butter, mayonnaise, margarines, spreads and oil-based creams) are required to comply with the revised Technical Regulation on Oils and Fats (TR TS 024/2011) – subject to the transitional period of one year (i.e. until 22 December 2025).
Technical Regulation on Oils and Fats (TR TS 024/2011) applies in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.
During the transitional period, all conformity documentation, including declarations of conformity that were issued before 22 December 2024 are to remain valid and products can be manufactured and placed on the EAEU market (e.g. imported) according to these documents. Products manufactured and imported subject to these documents can remain on the EAEU market during their normal shelf life.
The amendments set out requirements for the transportation of oils and fats, and in particular, they introduce the following changes:
- Set out requirements for the transportation of edible oil and fat products, including in terms of the use of vehicles intended for the transportation of oil and fat products in bulk;
- Provide lists of edible oil and fat products that cannot be transported in bulk by all types of transport;
- Define the types of cargoes, after the transportation of which the bulk transportation of edible oil and fat products by water transport is permitted or prohibited.
All plant oils must undergo a mandatory processing after they have been transported in bulk by any water transport.
The amendments have also introduced the limits for the contaminant called "glycidyl esters of fatty acids in terms of glycidol". Glycidyl esters are potentially hazardous compounds that can form during heat treatment of oils. Establishing an acceptable level increases food safety and harmonizes requirements with international standards. Before these amendments have been adopted, there was no requirement as to the content limits for glycidyl esters of fatty acids in food.
Law: EurAsian Commission Council Decision No. 149 of 12 December 2023 on Amending Technical Regulation on Oils and Fats TR TS 024/2011.