I N T E R N AT I O N A L F O O D STA N D A R D S
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS
STANDARD
STANDARD FOR
COCOA BUTTER
CXS 86-1981
ADOPTED 1981 CXS 86-1981
AMENDED 2025
History of the standard
2025 Amendments
Following decisions taken at the Forty-eighth Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in November
2025, amendments were made in Section 6: “Methods of analysis and sampling” by replacing methods of
analysis with a reference to the Recommended methods of analysis and sampling (CXS 234-1999).
This publication was redesigned and published in 2025.
2022 Amendments
Following decisions taken at the Forty-fifth Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in December
2022, amendments were made in Section 5.2: “Labelling of non-retail containers”.
Amendments and revisions made prior to 2022:
Amended in 2016.
Revised in 2001.
Adopted in 1981.
STANDARD FOR COCOA BUTTER CXS 86-1981
1 Scope
This standard applies exclusively to cocoa butter used as an ingredient in the manufacture of chocolate and
chocolate products.
2 Description
2.1 Definition of cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is the fat obtained from cocoa beans with the following characteristics:
• free fatty acid content not more than 1.75% m/m
(expressed as oleic acid):
• unsaponifiable matter: not more than 0.7% m/m,
except in the case of press cocoa butter
which shall not be more than 0.35% m/m
3 Food additives
No additives are permitted in this product.
3.1 Processing aids
Maximum level
Hexane (62 ºC – 82 ºC) 1 mg/kg excluding press cocoa
butter
The processing aids used in products conforming to this standard should be consistent with the Guidelines
on substances used as processing aids (CXG 75-2010).¹
4 Hygiene
It is recommended that the products covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled in
accordance with the appropriate sections of the General principles of food hygiene (CXC 1-1969),² and other
relevant Codex texts such as codes of hygienic practice and codes of practice.
The products should comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance with the Principles
and guidelines for the establishment and application of microbiological criteria for foods (CXG 21-1997).³
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CODEX ALIMENTARIUS STANDARD
5 Labelling
In addition to the General standard for labelling of pre-packaged goods (CXS 1-1985),⁴ the following shall
apply:
5.1 Name of the product
Cocoa butter
The product shall be “cocoa butter” except that the name “press cocoa butter” may be used for products in
conformity with the description for this product given in Section 2.1: “Definition of cocoa butter”.
5.2 Labelling of non-retail containers
The labelling of non-retail containers should be in accordance with the General standard for the labelling of
non-retail containers of foods (CXS 346-2021).⁵
6 Methods of analysis and sampling
For checking compliance with this standard, the methods of analysis and sampling contained in the
Recommended methods of analysis and sampling (CXS 234-1999)⁶ relevant to the provisions in this standard
shall be used.
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STANDARD FOR COCOA BUTTER CXS 86-1981
Referenced texts
1 Guidelines on substances used as processing aids (CXG 75-2010).
2 General principles of food hygiene (CXC 1-1969).
3 Principles and guidelines for the establishment and application of microbiological criteria for foods
(CXG 21-1997).
4 General standard for labelling of pre-packaged goods (CXS 1-1985).
5 General standard for the labelling of non-retail containers of foods (CXS 346-2021).
6 Recommended methods of analysis and sampling (CXS 234-1999).
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Codex Alimentarius
A collection of international food standards
developed to protect consumer health
and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
Codex standards are adopted by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission, an intergovernmental
body with 189 Members, established by FAO and WHO.
The standards are recognized by the World Trade
Organization as the benchmark for the safety
of internationally traded food.
Codex Secretariat
Contacts
codex@[Link]
[Link]
[Link]/FAOWHOCodex
[Link]/@UNFAO
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations
Rome, Italy
© FAO and WHO, 2025
FAO and WHO. 2025. Standard for cocoa butter.
Codex Alimentarius Standard, No. CXS 86-1981. Codex Alimentarius Commission. Rome.