EU Tightens Checks on Chinese Arachidonic Acid Oil Imports After Infant Formula Contamination

The European Commission has strengthened import controls on arachidonic acid oil from China, a key ingredient used in infant formula, after investigations linked the product to possible contamination with the toxin cereulide and prompted global recalls.

The move, adopted in Brussels on Feb. 24, comes after notifications in the EU’s food safety alert system and follow-up probes by national authorities identified the oil as the source of contamination in recalled infant formula products.

It said the tighter checks were backed by EU member states and would apply from Feb. 26.

Since December 2025, alerts filed in the bloc’s emergency warning network for food safety problems have flagged the presence of cereulide toxin in infant formula. National authorities subsequently traced the contamination to arachidonic acid oil originating in China.

The contamination triggered precautionary recalls across several EU countries and beyond.

In January, three global dairy companies—Nestlé, Lactalis, and Danone—launched international recalls due to potential contamination.

In Australia, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) said in late February that it would oversee a nationwide recall of two batches of Alula infant formula over the potential presence of cereulide.

The EU’s executive branch described cereulide in its Feb. 24 implementing regulation as “an emetic toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus.” It is resistant to common heat treatments, including pasteurization and sterilization, meaning it may remain active in food until consumption.

The legislation states that infant formula is intended for “a particularly vulnerable population group” and warns that consumption of formula contaminated by cereulide “potentially leads to severe illness or even infant fatality.”

Several EU member states reported cases of infants with gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming formula later included in recalls, the commission said.

It also noted that “the deaths of two infants, suspected to be linked to consumption of recalled infant formula, are under judicial investigation in a Member State.”

New Border Measures

Under the new rules, every consignment of arachidonic acid oil from China must be presented at designated Border Control Posts in EU member states.

All shipments entering the EU will be subject to documentary checks, and about 50 percent of consignments will undergo identity and physical checks. In addition, consignments must be accompanied by laboratory analysis results and an official certificate issued by Chinese authorities confirming the absence of cereulide toxin.

The regulation includes a two-month transitional period. Consignments dispatched before the regulation’s entry into force may enter the EU until April 26, 2026, without the new laboratory results and certification, provided they are still subject to identity and physical checks.

The Epoch Times reached out to China’s mission to the EU for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.