Brussels, 05/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The contamination by dioxin of meat and eggs in German farms does not seem, at this point, to be about to become a European issue. The Commission remains on the qui vive, however (see EUROPE 10286). According to detailed information sent to the European Commission on the evening of 4 January, no contaminated foods or feeds of animal origin had been put on the market or exported to other member states or third countries, with the exception of two shipments of possibly contaminated eggs to the Netherlands. Should, however, further investigation reveal trade in animal products contaminated in this incident, the competent authorities of the member states and third countries will immediately be informed by means of the EU's rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF).
The accidental contamination took place in an animal feeds firm which mixed 26 tonnes of biofuel residue that was intended for paper production with vegetable fat for animal feeds. The German authorities will brief member states' representatives of the latest situation at the next meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 11 and 12 January. In the afternoon of Wednesday 5 January, the Commission held talks with the European Compound Feed Manufacturers Federation (FEFAC) to identify ways of improving control of dioxin in animal feeds. European regulation 183/2005 lays down minimum requirements for feed hygiene along the whole food chain from the primary production of animal feeds to the feeding of animals to be used in the production of foodstuffs. The responsibility lies with the animal feeds sector operator to put in place procedures based on HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles to identify where monitoring is essential and where possible chemical contamination might occur. Under the terms of Regulation 882/2004 on official controls carried out to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law and with animal health and animal welfare rules, member states are required to ensure that these controls are conducted correctly and sufficiently frequently. (A.N./transl.rt)