Brussels, 25/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Testament to the heightened vigilance within the food safety staff, the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) workload increased in 2010. There were 8,582 notifications, an 8% increase on the previous year (just under 8,000 in 2009). This is a record number for the mechanism that enables quick and effective exchange of information between member states and the European Commission when risks to human health are detected in the food and feed chain. The 2010 annual report of the RASFF, published on Tuesday 25 October, reveals the rise in notifications for the third consecutive year. The 2010 record is largely down to rejections of consignments at EU borders in the light of the strengthening of border controls as regards food of non-animal origin, through Regulation (EC) No 669/2009. The Commission sees in all this a sign of improved effectiveness of the system which, from food crisis to tougher legislation, is bearing fruit but can still be improved upon - as can be seen from the regulatory proposals that have just been approved by member states' experts, drawing the lessons of the crisis over the dioxin-contaminated eggs and meat in Germany at the end of 2010/start of 2011 (see EUROPE 10479).
Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli, delighted with the RASFF's proven effectiveness, is clear that now is not the time to rest on one's laurels. “As the recent E. coli crisis has shown, the necessary information must be disseminated rapidly enabling authorities to withdraw dangerous products from the market once they had been identified. Of course, there is always room for further improvement. Lessons will thus be drawn from the E. coli crisis, to help us further improve the use of our alert and response system”, he says in a press release.
Of the 8,582 notifications in 2010, 576 reported serious risks found in products on the market (compared with 557 in 2009). Notifications for information numbered 1,168 (compared with 1,191 in 2009): these are sent when a risk has been identified but immediate action by other member states is not necessary. There were also 1,552 notifications of products that were refused entry into the Community and were given another destination or were destroyed (1,456 in 2009).
Two-thirds of the alert notifications in 2010 related to products originating in the EU and, among the risks most reported, were the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms, heavy metals, allergens and mycotoxins. 52% of information notifications concerned products originating outside the EU. Among the risks most reported for information notifications were the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms, pesticide residues, heavy metals and non-compliances regarding food additives.
Border refusals for products in which mycotoxin levels were too high numbered 34%. The second most frequent reason for rejection was the presence of pesticide residues above the limits set in legislation.
The RASFF brings all 27 member states, the Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EFTA Surveillance Authority, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland into a single network. (AN/transl.rt)