Substance group
What counts as Nitrates (E 251–252)?
2 markets define Nitrates (E 251–252), and they don't all agree. Read each definition below. You tell us if your product contains it; we never guess from its name.
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Group
Definitions
“E 251–252: Nitrates”
“E 251–252: Nitrates”
- Definition
- Annex II Part C: E 251–252: Nitrates
- Listed members
- Sodium nitrate, Potassium nitrate
- Source
“E 251–252: Nitrates”
Annex II, line 1638 (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-09European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Annex II, line 1638(opens in a new tab)
- Definition
- Annex II Part C (GB): E 251–252: Nitrates
- Listed members
- Sodium nitrate, Potassium nitrate
- Source
“E 251–252: Nitrates”
Annex II, line 712 (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-10The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk): Annex II, line 712(opens in a new tab)
Rules
Rules that use these definitions
76 rules.
Limit 75 mg/kg (content basis)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- EU food category: Dairy analogues, including beverage whiteners [01.8]
Depends on: eu food category code
In force since 9 Oct 2025
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 9 Oct 2025
The row states a period of application beginning 2025-10-09.
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 75 · (30) (XA) (XB) · only dairy-based cheese analogue Period of application: from 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 01.8; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)Limit 150 mg/kg (content basis)
The start date is not stated in the text (date unknown).
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- EU food category: Non-heat-treated meat products [08.3.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
Art. 35: applies from 20 January 2010; Annex II as consolidated 2026-08-18, amendment dates of single rows not tracked. The row sits in the block marked ▼M110 (inserted or replaced by an amending act); the published text lists the amending acts with their Official Journal publication dates only, not their application dates, so 20 January 2010 (Art. 35) stands in for the row's start date.
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 150 · (7) · Period of application: until 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)Limit 90 mg/kg (content basis)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- EU food category: Non-heat-treated meat products [08.3.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
In force since 9 Oct 2025
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 9 Oct 2025
The row states a period of application beginning 2025-10-09.
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 90 · (XA) (XE) · Period of application: from 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)Limit 110 mg/kg (content basis)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- EU food category: Non-heat-treated meat products [08.3.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
In force since 9 Oct 2025
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 9 Oct 2025
The row states a period of application beginning 2025-10-09.
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 110 · (XA) (XF) · only large bacon primals and dry sausages without nitrites added Period of application: from 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)14 rules from Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives
Limit 250 mg/kg (content basis)
Show targets (14 of 14)
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- EU food category: Traditional immersion cured products (Meat products cured by immersion in a curing solution containing nitrites and/or nitrates, salt and other components) [08.3.4.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
Dates run from 20 Jan 2010 to 9 Oct 2025
Each rule has its own date; open a target.
Example: Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 250 · (39) (59) · only Wiltshire bacon and similar products: Meat is injected with curing solution followed by immersion curing for 3 to 10 days. The immersion brine solution also includes microbiological starter cultures Period of application: until 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.4.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)- LimitEUNitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
Limit 75 mg/kg (content basis)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Applies when
- EU food category: Dairy analogues, including beverage whiteners [01.8]
Depends on: eu food category code
- Effective
In force since 9 Oct 2025
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 9 Oct 2025
The row states a period of application beginning 2025-10-09.
- Source
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 75 · (30) (XA) (XB) · only dairy-based cheese analogue Period of application: from 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 01.8; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)
- LimitEUNitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
Limit 150 mg/kg (content basis)
The start date is not stated in the text (date unknown).
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Applies when
- EU food category: Non-heat-treated meat products [08.3.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
- Effective
- Repealed
Art. 35: applies from 20 January 2010; Annex II as consolidated 2026-08-18, amendment dates of single rows not tracked. The row sits in the block marked ▼M110 (inserted or replaced by an amending act); the published text lists the amending acts with their Official Journal publication dates only, not their application dates, so 20 January 2010 (Art. 35) stands in for the row's start date.
- Source
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 150 · (7) · Period of application: until 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)
- LimitEUNitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
Limit 90 mg/kg (content basis)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Applies when
- EU food category: Non-heat-treated meat products [08.3.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
- Effective
In force since 9 Oct 2025
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 9 Oct 2025
The row states a period of application beginning 2025-10-09.
- Source
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 90 · (XA) (XE) · Period of application: from 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)
- LimitEUNitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
Limit 110 mg/kg (content basis)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 18 Aug 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02008R1333-20260818 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Applies when
- EU food category: Non-heat-treated meat products [08.3.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
- Effective
In force since 9 Oct 2025
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 9 Oct 2025
The row states a period of application beginning 2025-10-09.
- Source
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 110 · (XA) (XF) · only large bacon primals and dry sausages without nitrites added Period of application: from 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)
- Limit x 14EU
14 rules from Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives
Limit 250 mg/kg (content basis)
Show targets (14 of 14)
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
- Applies when
- EU food category: Traditional immersion cured products (Meat products cured by immersion in a curing solution containing nitrites and/or nitrates, salt and other components) [08.3.4.1]
Depends on: eu food category code
- Effective
Dates run from 20 Jan 2010 to 9 Oct 2025
Each rule has its own date; open a target.
- Source
Example: Nitrates (E 251–252) as defined in European Union
From the consolidated text: E 251–252 · Nitrates · 250 · (39) (59) · only Wiltshire bacon and similar products: Meat is injected with curing solution followed by immersion curing for 3 to 10 days. The immersion brine solution also includes microbiological starter cultures Period of application: until 9 October 2025
Annex II rows, Part E, category 08.3.4.1; row: E 251–252 Nitrates · fetched 2026-10-09
European Commission / Publications Office (CELLAR): Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (consolidated 2026-08-18)(opens in a new tab)
See also
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