MOSH/MOAH background
In France, a law was enacted prohibiting the use of mineral oils in packaging materials as of January 2023. Now, more and more countries are following MOSH/MOAH regulation and restricting the content of MOSH/MOAH in the food.
Brugarolas S.A. offers a full range of lubricant solution for Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH) and Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) in response to this regulation.
What is MOH, MOSH/MOAH?
Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons (MOH) are a complex mixture of thousands of compounds mainly derived from petroleum refining, but they can also originate from coal, natural gas, and biomass liquefaction. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has identified two major categories relevant to food safety:
Regulation of MOSH/MOAH
On February 10, 2020, the French government enacted Law No. 2020-105 (Article 112) prohibiting the use of mineral oils in packaging as part of waste reduction and circular economy measures. Furthermore, in 2022, a new regulation (Arrêté du 13 avril 2022, the Decree) was published, defining mineral oils and setting limit values.
The use of mineral oils will be progressively banned as follows:
From January 1, 2023: The regulatory limit for mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) containing 1 to 7 aromatic rings is set at 1%.
From January 1, 2025:
- The regulatory limit for MOAH containing 1 to 7 aromatic rings will be 0.1%.
- The regulatory limit for MOAH containing 3 to 7 aromatic rings will be 1 ppm.
- For mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) with carbon numbers ranging from C16 to C35, the limit will be 0.1%.
| Specified substance | Effective date | |
|---|---|---|
| From Jan 1, 2023 | From Jan 1, 2025 | |
| MOSH (C16–C35) | — | 0.1% |
| MOAH (1–7 aromatic rings) | 1% | 0.1% |
| MOAH (3–7 aromatic rings) | — | 1 ppm |
“—” indicates no specific limit at that date.
Why to use MOSH/MOAH free food-grade lubricant?
Using MOSH/MOAH free food-grade lubricants helps food manufacturers reduce the risk of harmful hydrocarbon migration into products, ensures compliance with strict international safety regulations, protects consumer health, and safeguards brand reputation by demonstrating commitment to food safety and quality.
Although there are currently no specific limits for MOSH/MOAH in lubricants, more and more manufacturers are paying attention to MOSH/MOAH in lubricants due to concerns about contamination and the limit values set for final products.
Frequently asked
How can I know whether the lubricant I am currently using contains MOSH/MOAH?
In the market, more than 70% of lubricants contain MOSH/MOAH. Common examples may include the hydraulic oil, gear oil, compressor oil, or grease you are currently using. Products formulated with white mineral oil are highly likely to contain them. If you are unsure, please feel free to contact us below. Our technical engineers will provide you with a free consultation.
If I use lubricants that contain MOSH/MOAH, will there be any problems?
Using lubricants that contain MOSH/MOAH may pose food safety risks because MOSH can accumulate in the human body and MOAH has proven carcinogenic potential; therefore, for food production it is strongly recommended to switch to MOSH/MOAH free food-grade lubricants to ensure compliance with regulations, protect consumer health, and safeguard brand reputation.
It may contaminate the product, leading to MOSH/MOAH being detected in the final goods, which can result in consumer or customer dissatisfaction. Consequently, this may damage brand reputation and create liability for compensation.
Who are the first-tier industries that need to pay special attention to MOSH/MOAH?
The first-tier industries that need to pay special attention to MOSH/MOAH are food manufacturers, infant food producers, and food packaging suppliers, especially the food exporting to Europe region.
Is there any regulation about MOSH/MOAH contents in lubricants? How to test?
Although there are currently no specific limits for MOSH/MOAH in lubricants, more and more manufacturers are paying attention to MOSH/MOAH in lubricants due to concerns about contamination and the limit values set for final products.
First, request from your supplier: information on the base oil formulation (whether it contains white mineral oil), a MOSH/MOAH-free declaration, and the most recent third-party test report.
If testing is required, specify to the laboratory that you need an analysis for MOSH (C16–C35) and MOAH (1–7/3–7 rings) in lubricants; most international labs (such as SGS or Eurofins) can perform this.
If your goal is primarily risk management, switch to non–mineral oil–based formulations ( Esters, PFPE, silicone, vegetable base oil etc.) with NSF H1/3H certification, and request that your supplier provide a MOSH/MOAH test report or non-detection statement.
Brugarolas S.A.
Founded in 1885 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Brugarolas Lubricants is dedicated to innovation in lubricant applications. All products comply with the RoHS directive, ensuring import and export without concerns over restricted substance testing. Our solutions extend equipment lifetime and reduce operating costs. With a full product line covering a wide range of industries—including cement, mining, food, paper, aerospace, and advanced electronics—if you require specialized lubrication products not listed below, contact our engineers with hesitation.
Our Advantages:
- Reduce friction and wear, minimize abnormal noise
- Extend component lifetime
- Prevent contamination
- Enhance functionality and reliability
- Improve production yield
- Avoid product defects
- Increase uptime
- Low odor
- Safe for operators
- Non-hazardous
- Lower overall costs
- RoHS and REACH/SVHC compliant
- PFAS free
- MOSH/MOAH free
- Biodegradable
- Food-grade
- Halal certification
References
EFSA (2012) Update on the risk assessment of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in food. European Food Safety Authority. Available at: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/plain-language-summary/update-risk-assessment-mineral-oil-hydrocarbons-moh-food (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
EFSA (n.d.) Mineral oil hydrocarbons. European Food Safety Authority. Available at: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/mineral-oil-hydrocarbons (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
Musim Mas (2023) Mineral Oil in Food: Understanding These Contaminants. Musim Mas Holdings. Available at: https://www.musimmas.com/resources/blogs/mineral-oil-in-food-understanding-these-contaminants (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
Food Packaging Forum (2023) Updated risk assessment highlights the need for stricter regulation on MOH in food. Food Packaging Forum. Available at: https://foodpackagingforum.org/news/updated-risk-assessment-highlights-the-need-for-stricter-regulation-on-moh-in-food (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
NSF (2024) MOAH health risks, food safety regulations, and industry impact. NSF International. Available at: https://www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/moah-health-risks-food-safety-regulations-industry-impact (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
