2008, Volume XII, Issue 1

REGULATORY NEWS

The European Commission (EC) amended the maximum levelsof Fusarium toxins in maize and maize products set down in EC Regulation No. 1881/2006. Despite implementation of Fusarium prevention measures in recent years, EU maize crops showed increased levels of fumonisins, zearalenone, and, to a lesser extent, deoxynivalenol in 2005 and 2006. The EU subsequently concluded that in climates that favor Fusarium growth, the established legal limits are not reasonably achievable. Therefore the EC decided to update the regulations to protect public health without unduly
disrupting the market.Legal limits for dry-milled maize fractions were set in accordance with the type and particle size of the fraction, reflecting the tendency of Fusarium toxins to concentrate in smaller particles. The Committee exempted maize intended for wet milling from regulatory control based on data showing little or no contamination in starch produced from maize, regardless of Fusariumtoxin levels present before processing.

The specific limits set by the new regulation for deoxynivalenol (DON) are 1,750 μg/kg in unprocessed maize not intended to be processed by wet milling; 1,250 μg/kg and 750 μg/kg in milling fractions of maize not used for direct human consumption with particle size ≤ 500microns and > 500microns, respectively. The specific limits for zearalenone (ZEA) are 350 μg/kg in unprocessed maize not intended to be processed by wet milling; 400 μg/kg in refined maize oil; 100 μg/kg in maize intended for direct human consumption, in maize-based snacks and maize based breakfast cereals; 20 μg/kg in processed maize-based foods for infants and young children; 300 μg/kg and 200 μg/kg in milling fractions of maize not used for direct
human consumption with particle size ≤ 500 microns and > 500 microns, respectively. The specific limits for
fumonisins (sum of B1 and B2) are 4,000 μg/kg in unprocessed maize not intended to be processed by wet milling; 1,000 μg/kg in maize and maize-based foods intended for direct humans consumption; 800 μg/kg in maize-based breakfast cereals and maize-based snacks; 200 μg/kg in processed maize-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children; 2,000 μg/kg and 1,400 μg/kg in milling fractions of maize not used for direct human consumption with particle size ≤ 500microns and> 500microns, respectively.

Full text of the new regulation is available in the Official Journal of the European Union, L 255/14–17 of September 29, 2007; website:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOIndex.do?ihmlang=en

MTNL Home | Contents | Next Article