ISO 15753:2016 describes two methods for the determination of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in animal and vegetable fats and oils:

- a general method;

- a specific method for coconut oil and vegetable oils with short-chain fatty acids.

These methods are not quantitative for the very volatile compounds such as naphthalene, acenaphthene and fluorene. Due to interferences provided by the matrix itself, palm oil and olive pomace oil cannot be analysed using this method.

The quantification limit is 0,2 µg/kg for almost all compounds analysed, except for fluoranthene and benzo(g,h,i)perylene, where the quantification limit is 0,3 µg/kg, and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, where the quantification limit is 1,0 µg/kg.

NOTE The results for olive pomace oil in Annex B show that this method is not applicable to this type of oil. The precision data determined are very poor.

Milk and milk products (or fat coming from milk and milk products) are excluded from the scope of this International Standard.