“There are no official controls (on aflatoxin contamination) or requirements applicable to pistachios intended for export to the EU”, according to a report by the EU’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) published on 5 April. Aflatoxins are powerful carcinogens which increase the risk of cancer of the liver.
The report sought evaluate the systems in place in the US to check for aflatoxin contamination in pistachios. The experts noted the continuing efforts of the US sector in developing and implementing measures (which include best practice, treatments against aflatoxins and voluntary laboratory analyses) to prevent aflatoxin contamination in pistachios destined for export to the EU. “However, despite commitments given by the US competent authorities in response to the recommendations made in the previous audit on the same subject, there are no official controls or requirements applicable to pistachios intended for export to the EU”, the report states. It concludes that the compliance of American pistachios exported to the EU with the limits for aflatoxin contamination set by Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 “cannot be guaranteed”. In cases where consignments of pistachios exported from the US are rejected by EU member states because of aflatoxin contamination, the resulting notifications to the US authorities under the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed are not adequately followed up in order to investigate root causes or to implement preventive measures, the EU experts point out. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)