ANIMAL HEALTH 1 Prevalence and impact of animal pathogens transmitted to ruminants by ticks in Belgium (TIBOPATH)

Transcription

1 Annex 1 Research topics (RT projects) Topic Maximum duration (years) Maximum grant ANIMAL HEALTH 1 Prevalence and impact of animal pathogens transmitted to ruminants by ticks in Belgium (TIBOPATH) 2 Dynamics of the Hepatitis E virus infections in Belgian pig farms (SUDYHEV) 2 200, ,000 PLANT HEALTH 3 Development of a system for awareness, early detection and notification of organisms harmful to plants in Belgium (BEWARE&NOTE) 1,5 150,000 FOOD SAFETY 4 Occurrence of tropane alkaloids in foodstuffs and risks for the Belgian consumer (TROPAL) 5 Analysis of the presence of furan and methylfurans in foodstuffs (MEFURAN) 6 Solanine and chaconine in potatoes and potato products (ALKALPO) 7 Analysis of genotoxic flavouring substances in foodstuffs (FLAVOURAN) 8 Presence of chlorinated paraffins in foodstuffs and intake of the Belgian population (PARCLINTA) 1,5 150, , , , ,000 1 / 15

2 1. Prevalence and impact of animal pathogens transmitted to ruminants by ticks in Belgium (TIBOPATH) There are indications that the importance of tick transmitted animal pathogens is considerably increasing. Up to now however, few representative prevalence studies have been performed in Belgium. The impact on animal health, production and antibiotics use are unknown. Policy preparation requires data on the prevalence and impact of these diseases. Research questions Study of the prevalence of pathogens transmitted to ruminants by ticks in Belgium. The study has to take into consideration various lab techniques (detection of antibodies, antigens, molecular sequences) and various matrices (serum, tank milk, individual milk samples). Establishing the impact of the observed pathogens on animal health, antibiotics use and production. The study has to seek synergies with other (ongoing) actions regarding ticks. Maximum duration : 2 years Maximum research grant : 200,000 2 / 15

3 2. Dynamics of the Hepatitis E virus infections in Belgian pig farms (SUDYHEV) Hepatitis E is a zoonotic virus transmitted to man through nutrition. According to ECDC (2017) a factor-10 increase of human hepatitis E has been observed between 2005 and Consumption of raw or insufficiently heated pig products is a risk factor according to EFSA (2017). Nearly 75 % of the Belgian pig stock is known to be carrying antibodies against the hepatitis E virus (Thiry, 2014). However, there is very little knowledge about the dynamics of the infection cycle of hepatitis E in Belgian pig farms. Such knowledge is necessary for policy development in the pig sector, in order to reduce virus introduction into the food chain and to protect the consumer. This theme complements earlier research funded by Contractual Research (RF 10/6236 HEVEA1 and RF 12/6266 HEVEA 2) and also complements the theme DECHAHEV from call 2018, focusing on hepatitis E detection in foodstuffs. References Salines et al. From the epidemiology of hepatitis E virus (HEV) within the swine reservoir to public health risk mitigation strategies: a comprehensive review. Veterinary Research, 2017, 48:31. ECDC Surveillance report Hepatitis E in the EU/EEA, Baseline assessment of testing, diagnosis, surveillance and epidemiology. ECDC, Stockholm, 2017 EFSA Public health risks associated with hepatitis E virus (HEV) as a food-born pathogen. EFSA Journal 2017: 15(17), Boxman I., Jansen C., Hägele G., Zwartkruis-Nahuis A., Cremer J., Vennema H., Tijsma A. Porcine blood used as ingredient in meat productions may serve as a vehicle for hepatitis E virus transmission. Int J Food Microbiology 2017, 257, Research questions Epidemiologic research and field studies will aim to acquire more insight in the introduction and spreading of hepatitis E virus types in Belgian pig farms, and to verify if it is possible to establish the risk status of the farms and of slaughtering lots on the basis of practical sampling methods (saliva, manure, ). The farm type has to be taken into consideration. Moreover, the project should be able to answer the question to which extent virulent virus is still present in slaughtering pigs, in which organs, and whether measures can be taken in the pig production cycle to reduce the risk of virus transmission to man. Maximum duration : 3 years Maximum research grant : 300,000 3 / 15

4 3. Development of a system for awareness, early detection and notification of organisms harmful to plants in Belgium (BEWARE&NOTE) As of 14/12/2019 Regulation (EU) 2031/2016 (1) entered into power, thoroughly reforming het the plant health policy. This regulation introduces a proactive approach to prevent the introduction and spreading of harmful organisms, and more than ever lays the emphasis on prevention. Controlling harmful organisms after their introduction is a time consuming and expensive matter, even more so if more time has elapsed between the introduction and establishment of a harmful organism and its discovery. By investing in preventive measures, high control costs and yield losses can be avoided. In order to detect changes in existing populations or introductions of new harmful organisms as early as possible, territorial surveillance is of great importance. The competent authority has to perform risk based survey programs, but also the operators and citizens need to be more involved in harmful organisms detection. To that aim, the compulsary notification is extended. Information has to be available in an accessible way for important crops or for possible new threats. Observations need to be notified and classified according to their relevance as swiftly as possible, and when there are indications of new risks, the competent authority has to assure a follow-up. There are already different observation and warning systems and projects but these are often focused on specific target groups. Reference (1) Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC Research questions - What are the existing pests and disease or symptoms monitoring systems for and by different target groups in Belgium (agriculture and horticulture professionals, citizens ( citizen science ), science, ) and how efficient are they? - What are the infrastructure/it or web tools used for collecting and sharing data in these systems, and what is their cost? - What are the criteria that an effective system for awareness, detection and notification of plant harmful organisms has to meet, and which toolkits are necessary to achieve this? - What are the possibilities to integrate and extend existing systems in view of a swift notification of new threats to the competent authority? Can they be linked to existing libraries or is it necessary to create a new library? - What are the possibilities of bringing in new communication technologies (apps, )? The aim is that the systems are used for the awareness, early detection and notification of organisms mentioned on the EU-quarantine list, on the EPPO A1, A2 or Alert lists, or of which the notifying person presumes it represents an emerging risk. Established organisms including quality organisms need to be filtered in order to avoid that they all conduct to an automatic 4 / 15

5 notification. As far as possible, the system has to allow the user to make a selection before he decides to introduce an actual notification. Developing one or more test cases is advisable to examine the efficiency of the system developed, and to assess to which extent such a system can contribute to the enhancement of awareness on plant harmful organisms. Maximum duration: 1,5 years Maximum research grant: 150,000 5 / 15

6 4. Occurrence of tropane alkaloids in foodstuffs and risks for the Belgian consumer (TROPAL) Plant toxins are substances produced by plants that can be toxic for the consumer of the plant or for the consumer of plant products in which parts of the plant containing the toxin end up unintentionally. Foodstuff contamination by undesirable plants like weeds is one of the causes of plant toxin contaminations. Both contamination by weed seeds (e.g. Datura seeds) and by the herbal part of toxic weeds may be relevant. This study aims at acquiring more knowledge as a basis for the policy regarding consumer s protection. The study has to be policy preparing, and useful for the federal authorities responsible for food safety. EFSA issued an opinion on tropane alkaloids (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-scopolamine, which can lead to an acute toxicity because of the anticholinergic action. The acute reference dose (ARfD) was established at μg per kg body weight, expressed as the sum of (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)- scopolamine. A recent survey in nine EU countries (not including Belgium) commissioned by EFSA confirms that there are contamination problems. The European contaminants policy already has taken its first steps towards tackling the problems, since there are reasons for concern: Regulation 2016/239 and Recommendation 2015/976. On the basis of EFSA s ARfD and of Belgian consumption figures, the Scientific Committee of the Belgian Federal Food Safety Agency has calculated action limits for the presence of tropane alkaloids in various foodstuffs. More concentration data on tropane alkaloids in foodstuffs on the Belgian market are necessary in order to establish more maximum levels in the Regulation and in order to allow the integration of tropane alkaloid analyses in an official monitoring program. In the context of contamination prevention and reduction, there is a need of insight into the agricultural circumstances in which tropane alkaloids find their way into agricultural products. In order to be able to develop a policy in this, more information is needed on the possible exposure of the consumer, as well as on the risk factors for increased concentrations and increased exposures. Former research more specifically focused on contaminations in cereals. Hence there is a limited need of data on cereal contamination, which are rather complementary to cover the Belgian market. It is known that products containing millet, sorghum and buckwheat are more often contaminated with weed seeds containing tropane alkaloids. The necessary attention should be given to foodstuffs that are generally more often contaminated with herbal weeds (as we also learned in our research on pyrrolizidine alkaloids): tea, herbal infusions, dried herbs and plant based food supplements. References 1. Mulder PPJ, De Nijs M, Castellari M, Hortos M, MacDonald S, Crews C, Hajslova J and Stranska M, Occurrence of tropane alkaloids in food. EFSA supporting publication 2016 : EN-1140, 200 pp. doi: /sp.efsa.2016.en Scientific opinion on tropane alkaloids in food and feed. EFSA Commission regulation 2016/239 amending (EC) N 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels for tropane alkaloids in certain cereal based foods for infants and young children; 6 / 15

7 4. Commission recommendation (EU) 2015/976 on the monitoring of the presence of tropane alkaloids in food 5. Wetenschapelijk Comité Advies Actielimieten voor erucazuur, ochratoxine A, moederkorenalkaloïden en tropaanalkaloïden in bepaalde levensmiddelen, producten van dierlijke oorsprong en diervoeders. afsca.fgov.be/wetenschappelijkcomite/adviezen/2017/_documents/advies _scicom erucazuurenz.pdf Research questions 1) Studying concentrations of tropane alkaloids including atropine and scopolamine in relevant foodstuffs in Belgium, including research into differences between foodstuffs grown in an organic and conventional way 2) In case the amounts of tropane alkaloids is significant: searching the sources of contamination (e.g. relevant ingredients) and/or agrarian factors crucial for contamination. 3) For positive samples : assess the risk for a too high intake by the Belgian consumer (children, adolescents, adults, subgroups presenting a possible increased ingestion due to a specific consumption pattern, e.g. a gluten free diet), on the basis of consumption data of 2014 The project has to take the EFSA opinion into account, as well as scientific data from recent research and literature studies, Recommendation (EU) 2015/976 and the consumption data of the Belgian national food consumption survey of The analytical limits of determination (LOQ) must be inferior to the action limits of the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain. The data must be reported to EFSA, in order to allow them to be integrated in the European debate and to provide a better view on the Belgian and European population s tropane alkaloid exposure. Maximum duration: 1,5 year Maximum research grant: 150,000 7 / 15

8 5. Analysis of the presence of furan and methylfurans in foodstuffs (MEFURAN) Furan, 2-methylfuran, 3-methylfuran and 2,5-dimethylfuran are very volatile substances that are formed in foodstuffs during heating. Furan can be formed in food from various precursors, such as ascorbic acid, amino acid, carbohydrates, unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids. The characteristics of the food, the processing and cooking conditions and the evaporation losses that occur mostly during the preparation of the foodstuff by the consumer, determine its eventual concentration in the foodstuff as it is consumed. Furan is mainly present in prepacked foodstuffs that have been thermally treated, such as foodstuffs in metal cans and glass jars. The measures with regard to risk management for contaminants in foodstuffs are harmonised at European level, and in particular by Regulation No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. That Regulation guarantees a high level of consumer health protection. However, no maximum levels have been set for furan yet. In Belgium, the RT 06/1 FURA project has already yielded data about the contamination of foodstuffs with furan (in that period it was not about methylfurans). The results of this research have contributed to a better understanding of the formation of furan and to an update of the risk assessment by EFSA. In October 2017, the EFSA CONTAM Panel (EFSA Panel for contaminants in the food chain) published a scientific opinion about the risk of the presence of furan and methylfurans in food. The contamination of foodstuffs with furan and methylfurans gives rise to concern with regard to public health. In adults, old and very old people, coffee is the main source of exposure. Cereals and cereal products make up the main food group for infants, children and adolescents. EFSA has also published recommendations with a view to future discussions between member states and the European Commission. As a result of the publication of that opinion and in order to prepare the European discussions that can result in maximum levels for furan and methylfurans, Belgium wishes to conduct additional research to complete the EFSA opinion as methylfurans have to be taken into account and more knowledge is needed about the contamination with methylfurans (the sum of furan and methylfurans). In order to better prepare the discussions about maximum levels, the Commission could provide a monitoring recommendation in the course of 2018, particularly in order to obtain additional data about methylfurans. Research questions - to develop and validate an analytical method for furan and methylfurans (2-methylfuran, 3-methylfuran and 2,5-dimethylfuran) in foodstuffs; - to gather data on the presence of furan and methylfurans in foodstuffs (foodstuffs for babies, preparations based on cereals for infants and young children, cereal products, coffee, crisps and other snacks, drinks with caramel colouring, ) on the Belgian market, and in particular on the individual concentration of each substance and the total concentration in the product. 8 / 15

9 The EFSA opinion and the European monitoring recommendation should be taken into account when they are made available. The data must be presented in the required format so that they can be reported to EFSA and used in the European discussions. Maximum duration: 2 years Maximum research grant: 150,000 9 / 15

10 6. Solanine and chaconine in potatoes and potato products (ALKALPO) Solanine and chaconine are plant toxins that are acutely toxic and that are found in shoots and green patches on potatoes. Those glycoalkaloids can also be found to a limited extent in potato products. Excessively green discoloured and excessively sprouted potatoes are normally sorted out of the food chain. At the moment, there are no European standards yet but Sweden does have standards for solanine and chaconine in potatoes (200 mg solanidine glycosides per kg fresh potatoes in their skins). An EFSA opinion about these substances is expected (EFSA-Q , question of 22 November 2016, negotiated deadline: 31 July 2019, "Request for a scientific opinion on the risks for animal and human health related to the presence of glycolalkaloids in feed and food, in particular in potatoes and potato-derived products"). Belgium is a major producer of potato products, such as potato crisps and frozen deep-fried potato products. The risk of inclusion of green parts is probably different in the industrial production of potato products compared to the sale in fresh-food shops and the preparation at home or in the hotel and catering industry. Diverse varieties of potatoes are available for the consumer, including dark-coloured potatoes that conceal the green discolour. Varieties can have different toxin contents. The storage and packaging practices for patatoes have evolved and this can have an impact on the development of toxins. In supermarkets, on local markets and at home, potatoes may be exposed to light, which has an impact on the development of toxins. The question is whether toxin development is also possible in fresh potato products, such as peeled or cut potatoes. It is important that the Belgian government develops a science-based policy. It is useful to carry out measurements in potatoes and potato products on the Belgian market and to gain current insight into the factors that significantly correlate with the concentrations. Possible factors that could be correlated directly or indirectly are: the variety, the nature of the point of sale (local market, supermarket, hotel and catering industry, ), the method of packaging, the nature of the processed product and the proportion of potato in it, whether it is a processed product based on potato dough or based on cut potatoes, the month of purchase (connection with the shelf life after harvest), colour, germination, sugar content, The royal decree of 30 November 1999 regarding the marketing of early and storage potatoes has been withdrawn. This decree used to stipulate that maximum 4% of the weight of early potatoes and 6% of the storage potatoes could have flaws such as green discolour (bright pale green discoloration that covers no more than one eighth of the surface and that is removed when the potatoes are peeled normally, was not considered as a flaw). 10 / 15

11 Research questions 1. Make an overview of the potatoes and potato products and list the factors that may have an effect on the solanine and chaconine contents in Belgium. 2. Draw up a sampling plan and select/develop an analytical method for a study on solanine and chaconine concentrations in potatoes and potato products on the Belgian market. 3. Determine the solanine and chaconine concentrations in potatoes and potato products on the Belgian market and formulate conclusions about the factors that have an effect on the contamination, on the basis of at least 200 samples. 4. For highly contaminated samples: assess the acute exposure of Belgian consumers (percentiles for age groups). The data must be reported to EFSA so that they can be used in European discussions and give a clearer view on the exposure of the Belgian en EU population to solanine and chaconine. Maximum duration: 1 year Maximum research grant: 100, / 15

12 7. Analysis of genotoxic flavouring substances in foodstuffs (FLAVOURAN) Flavouring substances are substances used to give flavour/smell to foodstuffs. They have been used in foodstuffs for a long time: sweets, drinks, pastries, food preparations, The list of flavouring substances authorized in the EU was established in It contains flavouring substances of which the presence on the EU market has been notified by Member States. An evaluation program of these flavouring substances is ongoing at EFSA. The Commission is susceptible to withdraw substances from the list, more particularly if the EFSA identifies preoccupations regarding their potential negative health effects. Within every group of flavouring substances (grouped according to their molecular structure), one or more substances have been identified as being representative and EFSA s evaluation of the representative substance(s) is considered to be valid for all substances in the concerning group. Ever since the evaluation program was started up, the EU list has been amended several times according to the results of the EFSA evaluations. Following their negative EFSA evaluation on genotoxicity, three substances have promptly been withdrawn from the EU list: dimethylthiophene (FL ) (Regulation (EU) 545/2013), p-mentha-1,8-dien-7-al (FL , commonly known as perilla aldehyde) (Regulation (EU) 2015/1760), and 4,5-epoxydec2 (trans)-enal (Fl ) (Regulation (EU) 2017/1250). The evaluations of flavouring substances by EFSA being pending, and the scientific opinions being gradually formulated, it is possible that more flavouring substances will be considered as potentially genotoxic in the near future, and that they will consequently be forbidden. Also other flavouring substances from the same group may be banned from the list and are potentially genotoxic. The European legislation does not require a detailed description of the composition of the flavouring substances on the market. Hence, the authorities are not able to determine whether newly forbidden substances have effectively been banned from the composition of flavouring substances. Furthermore, analytic methods allowing to check the presence of these forbidden flavouring substances are currently not yet available. Certain of these forbidden and (potentially) genotoxic flavouring substances can occur by nature in certain foodstuffs (e.g. perilla aldehyde is naturally present in citrus fruit peels). In order to protect public health, it is important to have a better insight in the natural presence of these aromatics in certain foodstuffs, and in the occurring concentrations. (e.g. presence of perilla aldehyde in fruit juices, in chocolate containing citrus zests, in alcoholic beverages having a citrus flavour). References Commission regulation (EU) No 545/2013 of 14 June 2013 amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the flavouring substance 3-acetyl-2,5-dimethylthiophene. Commission regulation (EU) No 2015/1760 of 1 October 2015 amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards removal from the Union list of the flavouring substance p-mentha-1,8-dien-7-al. (O.J.E.U. of ) 12 / 15

13 Commission regulation (EU) No 2017/1250 of 11 July 2017 amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards removal from the Union list of the flavouring substance 4,5-epoxydec-2(trans)-enal. Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 208 (FGE.208): Consideration of genotoxicity data on representatives for 10 alicyclic aldehydes with the α,β-unsaturation in ring / side-chain and precursors from chemical subgroup 2.2 of FGE.19 by EFSA Research questions 1) Development and validation of (an) analysis method(s) for flavouring and (potentially) genotoxic substances in foodstuffs, such as dimethylthiophene, p-mentha-1,8-dien-7-al and 4,5-epoxydec-2(trans)-enal 2) Collecting occurrence data of these flavouring and (potentially) genotoxic substances that are naturally present in or added to foodstuffs on the Belgian market. Smoke flavourings are out of scope. Maximum duration: 2 years Maximum research grant: 200, / 15

14 8. Presence of chlorinated paraffins in foodstuffs and intake of the Belgian population (PARCLINTA) Chlorinated alkanes, or chlorinated paraffins, are mixtures of polychlorinated n-alkanes, formed by the reaction of chlorine atoms with paraffin fractions originated from petroleum distillation. The carbon chain length of commercial products generally ranges between C10 and C30. A distinction is made between short chain (C10-C13), medium chain (C14-C17), and long chain (C18-C20) chlorinated alkanes, and waxes (C24). Chlorinated alkanes C10-C13 are commonly called short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP). They may be present in numerous industrial products such as plastics, textiles, rubber They are typically mixtures of molecules with different carbon chain lengths and varying chlorine content. The CAS number most commonly used to designate them is The production, placing on the market and use of short chain chlorinated paraffins was banned in the European Union in 2012 under the POP Regulation (Regulation (EC) 850/2004). According to Directive 98/98/EC, short chain chlorinated paraffins are dangerous for the environment and dangerous for health, as they are classified as category 3 carcinogenic. Short chain chlorinated paraffins accumulate in fish and molluscs. The intake of foodstuffs may be the most important route of exposure for humans. The European Commission has requested an opinion from the EFSA on the health risks for humans and animals caused by the presence of chlorinated paraffins in food and feed. That is why the EFSA is looking for data on the occurrence of chlorinated paraffins in food and feed. Data on concentrations of chlorinated paraffins in foodstuffs on the Belgian market and data on the population s level of exposure to those compounds are needed to know whether control measures need to be taken. References 1. Ineris chloroalcanes c10-c13 - Portail Substances Chimiques - Inerishttps://substances.ineris.fr/fr/substance/getDocument/ ANSES AVIS relatif à «l analyse des Plans de Surveillance et de Contrôle sur les substances indésirables en alimentation animale» EFSA continuous call for data : 4. EFSA asked to weight-up risk from chlorinated paraffins in food and feed 5. EFSA- Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain, Minutes of the second meeting of the Working Group on Chlorinated Paraffins in feed and food / 15

15 Research questions 1) Develop and validate an analytical method for short chain chlorinated paraffins in foodstuffs 2) Study on the concentration of chlorinated paraffins in foodstuffs on the Belgian market. 3) Estimate the intake of short chain chlorinated paraffins by the Belgian population (children, adolescents, adults) The occurrence data that were collected during the research project must be submitted to the EFSA. Maximum duration: 2 years Maximum research grant: 200, / 15