FSA Consultation Letter, 30 June 2004

CONTAMINANTS - Consultation on Draft Contaminants in Food Regulations (England) 2004

Maximum levels for inorganic tin in canned foodstuffs, for dioxins and patulin in foodstuffs, and for aflatoxins in maize. Responses are requested by: 16 September 2004

Comments are invited on a draft legislation The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2004. The Regulations are intended to apply to England only. Corresponding Regulations will be introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Agency’s offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are carrying out similar consultation exercises.

The Regulations will:

• make provision for the enforcement and execution of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1425/2003, as amended by Regulation (EC) No. 455/2004 setting maximum limits for patulin in foodstuffs and the allied EC Directive 2003/78/EC laying down the sampling methods and methods of analysis for patulin in foodstuffs;
• make provision for the enforcement and execution of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2174/2004 setting maximum limits for aflatoxins in raw maize and the allied EC Directive 2003/121/EC laying down the sampling methods and methods of analysis for aflatoxins in maize to be subjected to sorting or other physical treatment before human consumption;
• make provision for the enforcement and execution of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 242/2004 setting maximum limits for inorganic tin in canned foods and the allied EC Directive 2004/16/EC laying down the sampling methods and methods of analysis for inorganic tin in canned foods;
• make provision for the enforcement and execution of EC Regulation (EC) No. 684/2004 as regards dioxins;
• revoke and replace The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 1478).

The aim of Commission Directives 2003/78/EC, 2003/121/EC, 2004/16/EC and 2004/44/EC is to introduce sampling methods and the methods of analysis for enforcement purposes.

Comments are requested from Enforcement Authorities in relation to the implementation of these Directives.

In addition we would also welcome comments from other organisations and businesses with relation to the costs and benefits and other impacts of the Commission Regulations and Directives on their activities.

Copies of the Commission Regulations and the allied sampling and analysis Directives are available from the Commission website at http://europa.eu.int/index_en.htm.