Mycotoxins. EC permitted levels

Citation

Jukes, D. (1999), "Mycotoxins. EC permitted levels", British Food Journal, Vol. 101 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj.1999.070101dab.016

Mycotoxins. EC permitted levels

Discussions on controls for mycotoxins were continued at a meeting of the Commission Working Group on Agricultural Contaminants on 1 March.

Ochratoxin AAt the previous meeting (3 February 1999), the Commission had proposed that as a starting point for the discussions about appropriate regulatory limits, only those commodities contributing substantially to total OA intakes should be considered: cereals, wine, beer and coffee. In addition, it may be necessary to consider spices, dried fruits and grape juice, which might produce substantial OA intakes for some consumers. The Commission has now decided that it needs to flush out member states’ opinions and provoke discussion by suggesting some possible regulatory limits. The chairman was at pains to point out that these suggestions were not a Commission proposal, merely a basis for discussion. Most member states appeared unwilling to have the discussion without consulting at home. At this stage only the UK expressed the view that the limits should be proportionate to the risk. Most member states seemed happy to accept the approach that limits should be as low as reasonably practical in order to encourage source control measures. There will be a clearer view of member states’ positions after the next meeting on 23 April. The limits suggested for discussion are as follows:

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  Cereals: 5ppb for the raw material (including bran); 3ppb for cereal products such as flour and bread. This could mean that wheat within the 5ppb limit may cause wholemeal flour and wholemeal bread to fail the 3ppb limit.

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  Coffee: between 6-8ppb for green coffee; 4ppb for roasted and instant coffees.

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  Wine: 1 or 2ppb.

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  Beer: 0.2ppb, but some expressed the view that controls on the source materials obviate the need for a specific limit.

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  Dried vine fruits: 5ppb.

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  Spices: 10ppb.

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  Grape juice: 3ppb.

Aflatoxins and spicesThe Commission will propose the addition of a single category ‘‘spices’’ to the aflatoxins regulation with a limit for spices intended for the final consumer of 5ppb for B1 and 10ppb for AF total; with a separate higher limit for the raw commodity if it can be demonstrated that aflatoxin levels can be reduced effectively by physical processing (including solvent extraction). The Commission has approached representatives of the European spice industries and evidence is awaited.

Iranian pistachiosThe Commission’s report of its mission to Iran in October 1998 (XXIV/1492MR 12 January 1999) has also been discussed. The report noted that a number of improvements have been made to pistachio production methods in Iran. Nevertheless, it recommended that the Iranian authorities continue to improve controls (such as the introduction of an effective traceability system and a sampling method based on EU Directive 98/53/EC). It also recommended that, in the light of the above, the special conditions currently imposed on the import of Iranian pistachios be maintained for a further 12 months when a further review by the Commission will take place. The Commission announced its intention to take up this recommendation and the special conditions imposed on the import of Iranian pistachios will, therefore, continue to apply.

Peanuts from IndiaThe Commission had put forward a proposal for the temporary suspension of the import of peanuts into the EU from India. This followed a high number of incidents where products from these countries had been found to contain excessive levels of aflatoxin (as high as 400ppb aflatoxin B1). However, following discussions between the Commission and the Indian authorities, the Commission received assurances of improvements in production practices. Since then, no further notifications of contaminated peanuts from India have been received. The Commission, therefore, withdrew this proposal.

Peanuts from EgyptA similar proposal was put forward in regard to a temporary suspension on the import of peanuts from Egypt following a high number of consignments containing excessive levels of aflatoxin. It is understand that the Commission has received no assurances from the Egyptian authorities of any measures taken to reduce aflatoxin contamination. The Commission will, therefore, proceed with this proposal. The temporary ban on imports will initially be for a period of four months, during which time the Commission aim to send a mission to Egypt to investigate the situation. A Statutory Instrument implementing this ban in the UK will be made in due course.