Brussels, 03/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - A new stage has been entered in the fight against dioxins and PCBs - highly toxic chemical substances, already regulated by the EU since 2001 - to ensure that they are not present in animal feeds or human foodstuffs in levels that could be harmful to human or animal health, or to the environment. On Friday, the European Commission adopted new legislation setting maximum levels for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, based on World Health Organisation (WHO) toxic equivalency factors for these substances. Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are persistent chemicals which accumulate in the body and can cause cancer, immune and nervous system disorders, liver damage and sterility.
In a press release, Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said, “In setting these maximum levels, the Commission is taking another step forward in protecting the EU consumer from the harmful long-term effects of dioxin and dioxin-like PCB consumption. We will continue to pursue our comprehensive strategy against these noxious substances, continually reviewing the ways in which we can reduce human exposure to them. It is now up to national authorities to ensure that monitoring is properly carried out, so that citizens in all Member States can rely on the same level of protection against these contaminants”.
Responsibility for ensuring that maximum authorised levels are not exceeded will lie with food sector operators, while Member State authorities will have to carry out checks and report their findings to the Commission.
From November 2006, animal feeds and human foodstuffs in which the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs exceeds maximum levels will not be allowed to be marketed in the EU. Should they find any such cases, national authorities will be required to remove them from sale.
The Commission intends further reductions in maximum levels by December 2008. As early as 30 January, the Commission will publish a recommendation establishing “action levels” and “target levels” for dioxins in animal feeds and human foodstuffs. Action levels are intended as a tool for the early warning of higher than desirable levels of dioxin. They are set at a lower level than the maximum levels, and, if the action level is exceeded, an investigation should be carried out as to the cause of the presence of dioxins.
Within the EU, compulsory maximum dioxin levels in food of animal origin have been applicable since July 2002. No limit had been set, however, for dioxin-like PCBs because of a lack of data and scientific information. This gap has now been filled with the new legislation.