Evaluation of monitoring data on residues of didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and benzalkonium chloride (BAC)

In the framework of Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 , the European Commission (EC) asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to collect monitoring data on residues of didecyldimethylmmonium chloride (DDAC) and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in food and to provide a statistical evaluation of the collected data according to the guidelines of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (section pesticides residues). The present report summarises the monitoring data on BAC and DDAC submitted to EFSA in the period November 2012- April 2013 by 16 Member States and Norway. Altogether 5472 samples were analysed in vegetables, fruits and nuts, animal products, baby food, cereals and other plant products. A total of 5168 samples (95 % of the total) did not contain quantified residues for any of the substances analysed. DDAC and the sum of BACs n=10-16 (BACs10-16) were the substances with highest number of positive detections. The highest mean values for these substances at both the Lower Bound (LB) and Upper Bound (UB) were in the categories of animal products (3.64 mg/kg) and fruits and nuts (14.4 mg/kg), respectively. The sum of BACs n=8-18(BACs8-18) was reported in a minority of samples and without any detection.