In order to quantify the relative oral bioavailability of 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) from 3-MCPD fatty acid diesters in vivo, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD diester) and 3-MCPD were orally applied to rats in equimolar doses. In both cases, the time courses of 3-MCPD concentrations were measured in blood, various organs, tissues and intestinal luminal contents. The results show that 3-MCPD is released by enzymatic hydrolysis from the 3-MCPD diester in the gastrointestinal tract and distributed to blood, organs and tissues. Based on the measurements in blood, the areas under the curve (AUC) for 3-MCPD were calculated. By comparing both AUC, the relative amount of 3-MCPD bioavailable from the 3-MCPD diester was calculated to be 86 % on average of the amount bioavailable following administration of 3-MCPD. In view of limited experimental data, it is justified for the purpose of risk assessment to assume complete hydrolysis of the diesters in the gastro-intestinal tract. Therefore, assessment of the extent of exposure to 3-MCPD released from its fatty acid esters should be performed in the same way as exposure to the same molar quantity of 3-MCPD.