RAPID ALERT SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND FEED
The legal basis of the system is Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (O.J. No L 31 of 1 February 2002).
The purpose of the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) is to provide the control authorities with an effective tool for exchange of information on measures taken to ensure food safety.
To assist the members of the network, information is classified under two different headings:
• ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Alert notifications are sent when the food or feed presenting the risk is on the market and when immediate action is required. Alerts are triggered by the Member State that detects the problem and has initiated the relevant measures, such as withdrawal/recall. The notification aims at giving all the members of the network the information to verify whether the concerned product is on their market, so that they also can take the necessary measures.
Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an alert notification have been withdrawn or are in the process of being withdrawn from the market. The Member States have their own mechanisms to carry out such actions, including the provision of detailed information through the media if necessary.
• INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Information notifications concern a food or feed for which a risk has been identified, but for which the other members of the network do not have to take immediate action, because the product has not reached their market. These notifications mostly concern food and feed consignments that have been tested and rejected at the external borders of the EU (and the EEA1).
Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an information notification have not reached the market or that all necessary measures have already been taken.
The Commission publishes a weekly overview of alert and information notifications. As it is necessary to strike the balance between openness and the protection of commercial information, the trade names and the identity of individual companies are not published. This is not detrimental to consumer protection, as a RASFF notification implies that measures have been or are in the process of being taken.
The public must be aware that the Commission is not in a position to release more information other than that published here. However, in exceptional circumstances where the protection of human health requires greater transparency, the Commission takes the appropriate action through its usual communication channels.
The Commission informs the authorities of third countries of notifications concerning products manufactured in, distributed to or dispatched from these countries. However, the fact that a country is 1 European Economic Area mentioned as the origin of a product does not necessarily imply that the identified hazard(s) originated in the country concerned.
The notifications reported in the weekly overviews published on the European Commission's web site are so-called "original notifications", representing a new case reported on a health risk detected in one or more consignments of a food or feed. On these cases, control authorities are exchanging additional information on measures taken and outcome of investigations. This information does not appear in the publicly accessible weekly overviews.
Newly added columns are the "type of control" and "status" columns.
The type of control column indicates what type of control lay at the basis of the notification:
border control – import rejected: controls at the border posts of the outer EU (and EEA.) borders when the consignment was not accepted for import (“import rejected”);
- border control – screening sample: notification initiated through a sample taken at a border post for analysis but the consignment was meanwhile released to the market (“screening sample”);
- market control: official control on the EU (and EEA) internal market;
- company own-check: notification initiated through a company notifying the outcome of an own-check to the competent authority;
- consumer complaint: notification initiated through a consumer lodging a complaint with the competent authority; notifications initiated through reported food poisoning outbreaks are classified under this category.
The status column is a combination of two values, "distribution status" and "action taken".
The distribution status indicates knowledge existing at the time of notification about the possible distribution of the product on the market. The concept "market" is to be interpreted in a geographical way: "the internal Community market" i.e. this does not necessarily mean that the product is already on the shelves available to consumers, as often it is not.
The action taken represents the action already taken by the notifying country at the time of notification. If "no action taken" is given for an alert notification, this normally indicates that the product is not on the market of the notifying country (therefore: no action taken by the notifying country) but it may be on the market of other member countries.
Another addition to the table is the insertion between brackets of the outcome of the analysis to the "reason for notifying" column, whenever that information is available. This information allows evaluating the seriousness of the notified finding.
Week 2007/19
TABLE 1: ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.
DATE:
NOTIFIED BY:
REF.:
REASON FOR NOTIFYING:
TYPE OF CONTROL:
STATUS
14/05/2007
Germany
2007.0324
unauthorised novel food ingredient Siraitia Grosvenori in soupmixture from China (Hong Kong) via the Netherlands
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
14/05/2007
France
2007.0325
benzo(a)pyrene (17.86 μg/kg - ppb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (152.21 μg/kg - ppb) in smoked fish from Côte d'Ivoire
border control - screening sample
distribution on the market (possible) / reinforced checking
14/05/2007
Lithuania
2007.0326
benzo(a)pyrene (6.4 μg/kg - ppb) in smoked sprats in oil from Latvia
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
15/05/2007
Germany
2007.0327
migration of formaldehyde (3.8 mg/dm²) from melamine dinner set for children from China via the Netherlands
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
15/05/2007
Denmark
2007.0328
Salmonella typhimurium DT 104b - multiresistant in fresh frozen bovine meat from Italy
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
15/05/2007
Italy
2007.0329
Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in live mussels from Italy
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / product recall
16/05/2007
Germany
2007.0330
high content of iodine (2410 mg/kg - ppm) in dried seaweed stripes from China via the Netherlands
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
16/05/2007
Estonia
2007.0331
aflatoxins (B1 = 53 μg/kg - ppb) in roasted salted pistachios from Latvia, raw material from Iran
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
16/05/2007
Sweden
2007.0332
aflatoxins (B1 = 5.9; Tot. = 6.3 μg/kg - ppb) in nutmix from the United States via Norway
border control - screening sample
distribution on the market (possible)
16/05/2007
Italy
2007.0333
mercury (1.71 mg/kg - ppm) in fresh swordfish from Spain
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / product detained
16/05/2007
the Czech Republic
2007.0334
too high content of the sum of E 210 - benzoic acid and E 200 - sorbic acid (Sa + Ba =1214 mg/kg - ppm) and of sweetener E 950 - acesulfame k (545 mg/kg - ppm) in hot ketchup from Poland
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
DATE:
NOTIFIED BY:
REF.:
REASON FOR NOTIFYING:
TYPE OF CONTROL:
STATUS
14/05/2007
Germany
2007.0324
unauthorised novel food ingredient Siraitia Grosvenori in soupmixture from China (Hong Kong) via the Netherlands
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
14/05/2007
France
2007.0325
benzo(a)pyrene (17.86 μg/kg - ppb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (152.21 μg/kg - ppb) in smoked fish from Côte d'Ivoire
border control - screening sample
distribution on the market (possible) / reinforced checking
14/05/2007
Lithuania
2007.0326
benzo(a)pyrene (6.4 μg/kg - ppb) in smoked sprats in oil from Latvia
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
15/05/2007
Germany
2007.0327
migration of formaldehyde (3.8 mg/dm²) from melamine dinner set for children from China via the Netherlands
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
15/05/2007
Denmark
2007.0328
Salmonella typhimurium DT 104b - multiresistant in fresh frozen bovine meat from Italy
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
15/05/2007
Italy
2007.0329
Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in live mussels from Italy
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / product recall
16/05/2007
Germany
2007.0330
high content of iodine (2410 mg/kg - ppm) in dried seaweed stripes from China via the Netherlands
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
16/05/2007
Estonia
2007.0331
aflatoxins (B1 = 53 μg/kg - ppb) in roasted salted pistachios from Latvia, raw material from Iran
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
16/05/2007
Sweden
2007.0332
aflatoxins (B1 = 5.9; Tot. = 6.3 μg/kg - ppb) in nutmix from the United States via Norway
border control - screening sample
distribution on the market (possible)
16/05/2007
Italy
2007.0333
mercury (1.71 mg/kg - ppm) in fresh swordfish from Spain
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / product detained
16/05/2007
the Czech Republic
2007.0334
too high content of the sum of E 210 - benzoic acid and E 200 - sorbic acid (Sa + Ba =1214 mg/kg - ppm) and of sweetener E 950 - acesulfame k (545 mg/kg - ppm) in hot ketchup from Poland
market control
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal fromsale
TABLE 2: INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.
|
DATE: |
NOTIFIED BY: |
REF.: |
REASON FOR NOTIFYING: |
TYPE OF CONTROL: |
STATUS |
|
14/05/2007 |
Germany |
2007.BDX |
high content of iodine (4600 mg/kg - ppm) in dried seaweed from China |
market control |
information on distribution not (yet) available / no stockleft |
|
14/05/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.BDY |
aflatoxins (B1 = 53; Tot. = 60 μg/kg - ppb) in nut mixture from India |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) destroyed |
|
14/05/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.BDZ |
aflatoxins (B1 = 9.8; Tot. = 10 μg/kg - ppb) in crushed pizza chillies from India |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
14/05/2007 |
Austria |
2007.BEA |
aflatoxins (B1 = 10.1; Tot. = 54.7 / B1 = 4.6; Tot. = 5.1 μg/kg - ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
14/05/2007 |
Italy |
2007.BEB |
too high content of E 210 - benzoic acid (298 mg/kg - ppm) in guarana soft drink from Brazil |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
14/05/2007 |
Germany |
2007.BEC |
aflatoxins (B1 < 0.2; Tot. < 0.2 / B1 = 8.5; Tot. = 12.7 / B1 = 4.1; Tot. = 4.3 μg/kg - ppb) in raw pistachio nuts with shell from Iran |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
14/05/2007 |
Norway |
2007.BED |
E 250 - sodium nitrite (11.3 mg/kg - ppm) unauthorised in frozen smoked cod loins (gadus macrocephalus) from China |
border control - screening sample |
distribution restricted to notifying country |
|
14/05/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.BEE |
aflatoxins (B1 = 0.19 / B1 = 0.19 / B1 = 13.34 μg/kg - ppb) in shelled almonds from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
15/05/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.BEF |
illegal import of quail eggs in brine from Japan |
market control |
distribution restricted to notifying country / withdrawal from sale |
|
15/05/2007 |
Italy |
2007.BEG |
aflatoxins (B1 = 22.2 μg/kg - ppb) in bitter apricot kernels powder from China |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
15/05/2007 |
France |
2007.BEH |
aflatoxins (B1 = 4.6; Tot. = 13.1 μg/kg - ppb) in roasted blanched hazelnuts from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
15/05/2007 |
Germany |
2007.BEI |
aflatoxins (B1 = 11.4; Tot. = 18.5 / B1 = 3.2; Tot. = 19.5 / B1 = 0.3; Tot. = 1.5 μg/kg - ppb) in hazelnuts from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
15/05/2007 |
Cyprus |
2007.BEJ |
undeclared milk ingredient in plain chocolate couverture from Cyprus |
market control |
distribution restricted to notifying country / product recall |
|
15/05/2007 |
Cyprus |
2007.BEK |
undeclared milk ingredient in dark chocolate couverture from Cyprus |
market control |
distribution restricted to notifying country / product recall |
|
15/05/2007 |
Germany |
2007.BEL |
methiocarb (0.56 mg/kg - ppm) and lufenuron (0.092 mg/kg - ppm) in orange peppers from Spain via France |
market control |
product already consumed / no stock left |
|
15/05/2007 |
Cyprus |
2007.BEM |
too high content of E 250 - sodium nitrite (351 mg/kg - ppm) in ham from Cyprus |
market control |
product expired (exceeded use-by date) / product recall |
|
16/05/2007 |
Lithuania |
2007.BEN |
fenitrothion (0.12 mg/kg - ppm) in oranges from Egypt |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
Germany |
2007.BEO |
aflatoxins (B1 < 0.1; Tot. < 0.4 / B1 = 1.1; Tot. = 6.9 / B1 = 2.1; Tot. = 12.1 μg/kg - ppb) in hazelnuts from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
Germany |
2007.BEP |
aflatoxins (B1 < 0.1; Tot. < 0.2 / B1 < 0.1; Tot. < 0.4 / B1 = 16.5; Tot. = 24.5 μg/kg - ppb) in hazelnuts from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
Italy |
2007.BEQ |
aflatoxins (B1 = 10; Tot. = 11 / B1 = 6.3; Tot. = 6.9 / B1 = 8.4; Tot. = 9.1 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
Italy |
2007.BER |
aflatoxins (B1 = 6.1; Tot. = 6.5 / B1 = 5.4; Tot. = 6.2 / Tot. = 6.4 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachio nuts from Iran |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
Italy |
2007.BES |
unauthorised colours Sudan 1 (605 mg/kg - ppm) and Sudan 4 (498 mg/kg - ppm) in ground red hot chilli from Egypt |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.BET |
aflatoxins (B1 = 14.6; Tot. = 25.8 μg/kg - ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / physical treatment - sorting |
|
16/05/2007 |
Finland |
2007.BEU |
unauthorised genetically modified (DAS-59122-7 maize) complete food for cats from the United States |
market control |
information on distribution not (yet) available / product recall |
|
16/05/2007 |
Finland |
2007.BEV |
unauthorised genetically modified (DAS-59122-7 maize) complete food for cats from the United States |
market control |
information on distribution not (yet) available / product recall |
|
16/05/2007 |
Portugal |
2007.BEW |
ochratoxin A (15.8 μg/kg - ppb) in sultana raisins from Turkey |
market control |
distribution restricted to notifying country / withdrawal from recipients |
|
16/05/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.BEX |
aflatoxins (B1 = 4.9; Tot. = 6.0 / B1 = 5.1; Tot. = 5.1 μg/kg - ppb) in almonds from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
Denmark |
2007.BEY |
Campylobacter (in 12 out of 12 samples: 400-120.000 CFU/g) in fresh whole chicken from Germany |
market control |
product expired (exceeded use-by date) / product recall |
|
16/05/2007 |
Poland |
2007.BEZ |
foreign bodies (pieces of glass, shells, snails, pebbles, and sand) in black pepper from Vietnam |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.BFA |
mercury (1.98 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen fish from Namibia |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
France |
2007.BFB |
Salmonella in fish meal from Peru |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / reinforced checking |
|
16/05/2007 |
Denmark |
2007.BFC |
aflatoxins (B1 = 3.7; Tot. = 4.13 μg/kg - ppb) in roasted and salted pistachio nuts from the United States |
border control - screening sample |
no distribution / product detained |
|
16/05/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.BFD |
aflatoxins (B1 = 43.6; Tot. = 50.8 / B1 = 13.2; Tot. = 15.6 / B1 = 14.5; Tot. = 16.4 μg/kg - ppb) in almonds from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/05/2007 |
France |
2007.BFE |
Salmonella in fish meal from Peru |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / reinforced checking |
|
16/05/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.BFF |
aflatoxins (B1 = 13.2; Tot. = 15.1 μg/kg - ppb) in groundnuts from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / physicaltreatment - sorting |
TABLE 3: CORRIGENDA TO PREVIOUS NOTIFICATIONS
DATE: REF.: NOTIFI-CATION: OF WEEK SUBJECT CORRIGENDUM: 14/05/2007 inf01 2007.BDH 19 bovine protein in salted hog casings from Egypt The subject of the notification is corrected to: "bovine protein in salted hog casingsfrom Egypt".
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