In 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted a scientific opinion where the tolerable weekly intake was reduced sevenfold in accordance with new data and techniques. According to the experts, the available data from European countries indicated an exceedance of the new tolerable intake level across all age groups.

EFSA experts acknowledged that these exceedances were worring, however, they believed that the use of internationally agreed-upon values ("Toxic Equivalence Factors", TEFs) may have overstated the toxicity of the most dangerous dioxin-like PCB. WHO's review of TEFs is anticipated to be finished in 2023.

Meanwhile, maximum levels for dioxins and for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs were established for foodstuffs such as meat and meat products, milk and dairy products and the previous maximum level for hen’s eggs was extended to all poultry eggs.

During a transitional period, all items lawfully put on the market prior to the regulation’s effective date but not complying with the new maximum levels, may be sold on the market until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date. This regulation applies to products produced in, or imported into, the European Union from January 1, 2023.