ICGMA Report Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods Moscow, The Russian Federation 8 12 April 2013 Executive Summary The 7 th session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) was held in Moscow, The Russian Federation, 8-12 April 2013. Mr. Martijn Weijtens, Head of Unit, Department for Animal Supply Chain and Animal Welfare, Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, chaired the CCCF session which was attended by 63 member countries, EUMS, 11 international organizations, and FAO and WHO. Maia Jack, Ph.D., Grocery Manufacturers Association represented ICGMA. Two separate working groups from the Codex Committee on Contaminants met to discuss two core priorities: First, the JECFA working group met to evaluate a priority list of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants on April 9, 2013. Four substances remain on the priority list: 3-MCPD esters, glycidyl esters, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and nondioxin like PCBs. The meeting was chaired by Nega Beru, Ph.D. (U.S.A.), FDA CFSAN Director, Office of Food Safety. Second, the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (GSCTFF, CODEX STAN 193-1995) working group met to consider a number of proposed editorial amendments on April 9, 2013. This work has been deferred to an electronic working group to take on over the next year. The meeting was chaired by Frans Verstraete, Administrator/European Commission DG Health and Consumers Directorate-General. CCCF s key responsibility is to develop the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed and relevant Codes of Practices for those commodities that are traded internationally and for which the contaminants may pose a public health concern. This session focused on a number of critical issues primarily on mycotoxin contamination of cereal grains (and cocoa), lead contamination in a number of commodities, and arsenic in rice, among others. Draft Standards and Codes of Practice endorsed for adoption are being sent to the 36 th Codex Alimentarius Commission.
ICGMA Priorities The Table below summarizes key ICGMA issues: Issue ICGMA Support or Intervention Outcome Lead in ICGMA members were generally satisfied with proposed lead levels ultimately endorsed for adoption. Commodities (Agenda 5) Deoxynivale nol (DON) contaminatio n of cereal grains (Agenda 7) ICGMA s primary concern related to data sufficiency. Adequate occurrence data from a broad swath of geographic regions is important to ensure that impact to trade is minimized and proposed lower Maximum Levels (MLs) would be practically achievable. ICGMA members were particularly concerned about the proposed draft Maximum Limits (MLs) for DON in raw grains being set at 2 ppm. ICGMA expressed concerns about the practicality of setting MLs for DON when occurrence levels vary from year to year and are weather dependent and the possibility that critical grain trade could be blocked unnecessarily. In bad years, a significant portion of a lot could be rejected. As stated in CX/CF 12/6/9, a 2 ppm ML in a bad year would have resulted in 68% of Canadian maize being rejected from the market while 69% of South African maize would have been rejected. Additionally, the proposed levels would be even more problematic for Eastern Soft White Winter Wheat. ICGMA also highlighted the fact that good years would underreport bad years, and due consideration should be given when there are years of unusually high DON contamination. As discussion about the possibility of including removal of damaged kernels with the proposed ML ensued, ICGMA suggested that consideration of where along the continuum of harvesting the grain and the nip of milling would the proposed level be applicable (e.g., at elevator level, or after entoletor step). However, most importing countries wanted a limit of 2ppm for raw grains prior to sorting and removal. 2 Lack of geographic distributed data was a recurring issue when discussing the establishment of MLs for contaminants and in this regard, countries were repeatedly invited to submit relevant data to GEMS/Foods. In the coming year, should additional data not be forthcoming, decisions will be made on the limited data set. 2013 CCCF decision: Retain the current MLs of 0.02 mg/kg (milks) and 0.2 mg/kg (cereals). Revise ML of 0.03 mg/kg for fruit juices and nectars, readyto-drink. Retain the higher ML of 0.05 mg/kg for juices and nectars from berries and other small fruits. Revise ML from 1.0 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg as consumer for canned fruits and canned vegetables and canned mixed fruits and vegetables with the exclusion of canned berries and small fruits and brassica, leafy and legume vegetables, respectively. Postpone consideration of ML of 0.01 mg/kg for infant formula, including follow-up-formulas, until next session with the hopes that more data will be forthcoming. Continue to review MLs for lead in fruits, vegetables, milk products. The Committee had an extensive exchange of views on the proposed levels. Asia, Africa, Latin America, Russia, Norway, and EU all wanted to set a limit of 2 ppm on raw grain (prior to sorting and removal of damaged kernels) so that levels could be monitored at port of entry. Only US, Australia, and NZ suggested that setting levels for the raw grains served a limited purpose as the semi-processed grains (i.e., flour) is what is being consumed, and should be the commodity for which an ML is established. 2013 CCCF Decisions: DON Proposed MLs are as follows: - for raw cereal grains at 2 ppm (prior to sorting and removal of damaged kernels) with the associated sampling plan with sample size of 5 kg for maize and 1 kg for wheat and barley, advanced to Step 5, noting reservations expressed by U.S.A. and the Russian Federation; - for flour, semolina, meal and flakes derived from wheat, maize or barley at 1 ppm, advanced to Step 5 noting reservations expressed by EU and the Russian Federation; - and cereal-based foods for infants and young children at 0.2 ppm as consumed endorsed for adoption at Step 5/8, noting reservations expressed by Norway. As proposed MLs for the raw grains and the semi-processed grains advanced to Step 5, additional occurrence data for these commodities, and an economic impact analysis of how these limits can impact trade could potentially persuade the Committee to reconsider these levels at the next session. DON in wheat and corn brans: The Committee also agreed to encourage members to collect and submit occurrence data for DON in wheat and corn brans for possible future work.
3 Acetylated DON derivatives The Committee agreed to establish an ewg led by Canada and Japan to prepare a discussion paper and proposals for the extension of MLs for DON to its acetylated derivatives. It is important to note that the JECFA Secretariat reminded the Committee that the health-based guidance values for DON refer to DON and its acetylated derivatives, and as such MLs established for DON should apply to the group. Other issues of interest: The JECFA Secretariat informed the Committee that the forthcoming 77th JECFA would carry out the requested assessment of the exposure to cadmium from cocoa and cocoa products. Proposed draft Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of ochratoxin A contamination in cocoa has been endorsed for adoption at Step 5/8. The Committee agreed to return the draft Code of Practice for Weed Control to Prevent and Reduce Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Contamination in Food and Feed to Step 2/3 for redrafting, circulation for comments and consideration at the next session of the Committee. Outlook Proposed New Work/ ewgs Lead in various Commodities The Committee agreed to establish an ewg, led by U.S.A., to: o Continue with the review of the MLs for lead in infant formula, including follow-up-formulas, and in fruits, vegetables, milk products. Mycotoxin in Grains The Committee agreed to: o Encourage members to provide occurrence data for DON in wheat and corn bran o Establish and ewg led by Canada and Japan to prepare a discussion paper and proposals for the extension of MLs for DON to its acetylated derivatives o Re-establish the ewg, led by Brazil and co-chaired by the United States of America, to further develop the discussion paper on control measures for fumonisins in maize and maize products and prepare a proposed draft revision of the COP for consideration by the next session of the Committee. o Proposed draft MLs for fumonisins in maize and maize products and associated sampling plans as previously discussed at the 6th CCCF (CX/CF 12/6/18) will be circulated for comments, with a revised proposal prepared by Brazil for consideration at the next session. o The JECFA Secretariat putting out a public call-for-data for total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 in raw cereals, rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, rye, oats and barley as traded to be submitted to GEMS/Food. The re-
established ewg, chaired by Brazil and co-chaired by the United States of America, would review and analyze the data and provide a report and recommendations on how to proceed with aflatoxins in cereals for consideration at the next session. Arsenic in Rice The Committee agreed to re-establish an ewg, led by China and co-chaired by Japan, to: o Further develop the discussion paper, Possibility to Develop a Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Arsenic Contamination in Rice, factoring in readily available risk management measures that could be generally implemented by countries across regions. A proposed draft Code of Practice could be considered at the next session. o Prepare a discussion paper on proposals for maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products for consideration at the next session, encouraging members from rice-producing countries to submit relevant data to the ewg, as well as data for indica rice. JECFA Priority List Four substances remain on the priority list: 3-MCPD esters, glycidyl esters, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and non-dioxin like PCBs. Proposal for new work on the establishment of a maximum level for total aflatoxins in ready-to-eat peanuts and associated sampling plan The Committee agreed to establish an ewg, led by India, to prepare a discussion paper that defines the issue, identifies the available data and specifies data requirements for establishing the ML for aflatoxins in ready-to-eat peanuts. Review of Guideline Levels for Methylmercury in Fish and Predatory Fish The Committee agreed to re-establish the ewg, led by Japan and co-chaired by Norway, to: o prepare a discussion paper; o collect data on total mercury and methylmercury in fish species important in international trade in order to review the current GLs; and o explore the possibility of revising the GLs or their conversion to MLs and to identify the fish for which the level or levels could apply. Editorial amendments to General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (GSCTFF) The Committee agreed to establish an ewg, led by the European Union and cochaired by the Netherlands, to prepare a revised version of the editorial amendments to the GSCTFF for comments and consideration at the next session of the CCCF. 4
Developments during the 7 th CCCF As proposed MLs of DON for raw grains and the semi-processed grains advanced to Step 5, additional occurrence data for these commodities, and an economic impact analysis of how these limits can impact trade could potentially persuade the Committee to reconsider these levels at the next session. Next Session. The next session of CCCF is expected to be held in approximately 12 months in The Netherlands, date TBD. More Information. The official report of the meeting can be found at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/reports/reports_2013/rep13_cfe.pdf. ICGMA Staff Contact for CCCF. Maia Jack: MJack@gmaonline.org (1-202-639-5922) 5