畜牧人

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, notifications are classified under three different headings 1:

ALERT NOTIFICATIONS

Alert notifications are sent when a food or feed presenting a serious 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Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an alert notification have been withdrawn or are in the process of being withdrawn from the market.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 that was placed on the market 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 or is no longer present on their market or because the nature of the risk does not require any immediate action.

BORDER REJECTIONS

These notifications concern food and feed consignments that have been tested and rejected at the external borders of the EU (and the EEA 2) when a health risk was found. The notifications are transmitted to all EEA border posts in order to reinforce controls and to ensure that the rejected product does not re-enter the Community through another border post.

The Commission publishes a weekly overview of RASFF notifications belonging to the above three categories. 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 all required 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.

1 This classification was put in place on 1 January 2008 and differs from the classification used until then.

2 European Economic Area

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 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 additional information does not appear in the publicly accessible weekly overviews.

A short explanation about some of the notification tables' columns follows.

The "notification basis" column, appearing in the alert and information notifications tables, indicates what type of control, report or investigation lay at the basis of the notification:

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”);

official control on the market: 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;

food poisoning outbreak: reports of a food poisoning leading to the notification of a risk in a food on the market that has caused the food poisoning.

The status column is a combination of two values, "distribution status" and "action (to be) 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 (to be) taken represents the action already taken or to be 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.

Week 2008/32

TABLE 1: ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.

DATE	NOTIFIED BY	REF.	REASON FOR NOTIFYING	NOTIFICATION BASIS	STATUS
04/08/2008	Ireland	2008.0945	food poisoning outbreak (Salmonellosis) suspected to be caused by various meat products (Salmonella Agona detected in cooked beef steak strips) from Ireland	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
05/08/2008	Italy	2008.0949	Salmonella Agona in cooked and precooked veal and turkey from Germany	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
06/08/2008	Spain	2008.0958	mercury (2.06 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen slices of swordfish from Spain	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) returned to dispatcher
06/08/2008	Italy	2008.0962	Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen cooked shelled mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Spain	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) seized
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.0967	cadmium (0.39 mg/kg - ppm) and too high content of nitrite (21.1 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen leaf spinach from Belgium	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / no stock left

TABLE 2: INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.

DATE	NOTIFIED BY	REF.	REASON FOR NOTIFYING	NOTIFICATION BASIS	STATUS
04/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.0946	imazalil (0.015 mg/kg - ppm) and oxamyl (0.019 mg/kg - ppm) in fresh Galia melons from Honduras	official control on the market	product already consumed / no stock left
05/08/2008	the Slovak Republic	2008.0947	too high content of the sum of colours E 104 - quinoline yellow, E 110 - Sunset Yellow FCF, E 132 - indigotine / indigo carmine and E 151 - Brilliant Black Bn / Black Pn (483 mg/kg) in pasteurized black caviar from Austria	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
05/08/2008	the Netherlands	2008.0948	unauthorised feed additive monensin (26 mg/kg - ppm) in yeast produced from molasses from Brazil	company's own check	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) destroyed
05/08/2008	the Czech Republic	2008.0950	carbaryl (0.583 mg/kg - ppm) in litchi from Thailand, via the Netherlands	official control on the market	product already consumed / no stock left
05/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.0951	histamine (from 34 to 289 mg/kg - ppm) in fried skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) from Sri Lanka	border control - consignment released	distribution restricted to notifying country / informing recipients
05/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.0952	histamine (from 219 to 425 mg/kg - ppm) in fried herring (Spratelloides gracilis) from Sri Lanka	border control - consignment released	distribution restricted to notifying country / informing recipients
05/08/2008	the Czech Republic	2008.0953	dimethoate (0.104 mg/kg - ppm) in radish from Poland	official control on the market	product already consumed / no stock left
05/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.0954	methomyl (0.076 mg/kg - ppm) and carbendazim (0.12 mg/kg - ppm) in canteloupe melons from Costa Rica	official control on the market	product already consumed / no stock left
05/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.0955	histamine (33<=>162 mg/kg - ppm) in salted mackerel in soya bean oil from Thailand	border control - consignment released	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
06/08/2008	Spain	2008.0956	mercury (2.76 mg/kg - ppm) in packed frozen swordfish from Spain	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
06/08/2008	Latvia	2008.0957	narasin (70 μg/kg - ppb) unauthorised in organic poultry feed	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
06/08/2008	Italy	2008.0959	fenvalerate and esfenvalerate (sum: 0.98 mg/kg - ppm) in fresh vegetables (seem) from Bangladesh	border control - consignment released	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
06/08/2008	France	2008.0960	aflatoxins (B1 = 7.3; Tot. = 7.9 μg/kg - ppb) in Ponni rice from India	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
06/08/2008	Germany	2008.0961	high content of iodine (325 mg/kg - ppm) in dried seaweed from the Republic of Korea	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) recalled from consumers
07/08/2008	Italy	2008.0963	aflatoxins (B1 = 40.1; Tot. = 54.8 μg/kg - ppb) in groundnut kernels from China	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) destroyed
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.0964	unauthorised feed additive monensin (between 0.07 and 1.3 mg/kg - ppm) in yeast produced from sugar cane molasses from Brazil	company's own check	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
07/08/2008	Italy	2008.0965	cadmium (including hepatopancreas 4.48 mg/kg - ppm) in live crabs (Cancer pagurus) from France	border control - consignment released	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
07/08/2008	Hungary	2008.0966	dimethoate (1.7 mg/kg - ppm) in cucumbers from Hungary	official control on the market	product already consumed / no stock left
07/08/2008	the Czech Republic	2008.0968	dimethoate (0.145 mg/kg - ppm) in cucumbers from Romania	official control on the market	product already consumed / no stock left
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.0969	methamidophos (0.37 mg/kg - ppm) and acephate (3.9 mg/kg - ppm) in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) from Jordan	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / no stock left
08/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.0970	aflatoxins (B1 = 410; Tot. = 430 μg/kg - ppb) in stone ground corn meal from India	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) recalled from consumers
08/08/2008	Spain	2008.0971	Salmonella in frozen packaged pig meat from Spain	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country
08/08/2008	Germany	2008.0972	aflatoxins (B1 = 34.1; Tot. = 37.4 μg/kg - ppb) in watermelon seeds from Syria	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) detained
08/08/2008	the Czech Republic	2008.0973	Salmonella Ohio (present /25g) in fish meal from Latvia	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / physical treatment
08/08/2008	Germany	2008.0974	unauthorised feed additive monensin (809 μg/kg - ppb) in yeast produced from molasses from Brazil, via the Netherlands	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) returned to dispatcher
08/08/2008	Spain	2008.0975	unauthorised substance betaine in food supplement from the United States, via the Netherlands	official control on the market	distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
08/08/2008	Germany	2008.0976	aflatoxins (B1 = 4.3; Tot. = 5.4 μg/kg - ppb) in watermelon seeds from Syria	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) detained
08/08/2008	Germany	2008.0977	aflatoxins (B1 = 5.6; Tot. = 6.3 μg/kg - ppb) in watermelon seeds from Syria	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) detained
08/08/2008	Italy	2008.0978	too high level of total migration from cake tin from Spain	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / no stock left
08/08/2008	Italy	2008.0979	mercury (0.8 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen hake fillets (Merluccius hubbsi) from Uruguay	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
08/08/2008	Germany	2008.0980	unauthorised feed additive monensin (9.6 mg/kg - ppm) in yeast produced from sugar cane molasses from Brazil	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) detained
08/08/2008	Spain	2008.0982	cadmium (0.4 mg/kg - ppm) and mercury (3.8 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen swordfish from Spain	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) withdrawn from the market
08/08/2008	Spain	2008.0983	Salmonella in frozen pork neck meat (bondiola) from Spain	official control on the market	distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) detained

TABLE 3: BORDER REJECTIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.

DATE	NOTIFIED BY	REF.	REASON FOR NOTIFYING	ACTION (TO BE) TAKEN
04/08/2008	Italy	2008.BFH	bad hygienic state of salted anchovy from Tunisia	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed
04/08/2008	Spain	2008.BFI	dichlorvos (0.05 mg/kg - ppm) in maize in bulk from Argentina	product (to be) detained
04/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.BFJ	unauthorised genetically modified (rice BT63) rice noodles from China (Hong Kong)	product (to be) detained
04/08/2008	Finland	2008.BFK	aflatoxins (B1 = 16; Tot. = 20 μg/kg - ppb) in spiced peanuts from the United States	product (to be) detained
05/08/2008	Italy	2008.BFL	lead (3 mg/kg - ppm) in green tea from China	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed
06/08/2008	France	2008.BFM	aflatoxins (B1 = 0.6; Tot. = 0.6 / B1 = 0.7; Tot. = 0.7 / B1 = 6.4; Tot. = 6.7 μg/kg - ppb) in blanched pistachio kernels from Iran	product (to be) re-dispatched
06/08/2008	France	2008.BFN	aflatoxins (B1 = 8.8; Tot. = 13.2 / B1 = 4.1; Tot. = 6.7 / B1 = 5.8; Tot. = 11.9 μg/kg - ppb) in dried fig cubes from Turkey	product (to be) re-dispatched
06/08/2008	Italy	2008.BFO	lead (0.6 mg/kg - ppm) in pickled cabbage with bamboo shoots from China	product (to be) re-dispatched
06/08/2008	Norway	2008.BFP	Vibrio cholerae NON O:1/NON O:139 and prohibited substances nitrofuran (metabolite) furazolidone (AOZ) (7.5 μg/kg - ppb) and nitrofuran (metabolite) nitrofurazone (SEM) (0.65 μg/kg - ppb) in frozen black tiger shrimps from India	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed
06/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.BFQ	aflatoxins (B1 = 20; Tot. = 32 μg/kg - ppb) in ground ogbono (Irvingia nuts) from Nigeria	product (to be) destroyed
06/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.BFR	aflatoxins (B1 = 28; Tot. = 32 μg/kg - ppb) in ehuru seeds from Nigeria	product (to be) destroyed
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BFS	aflatoxins (B1 = 199; Tot. = 213 / B1 = 94; Tot. = 98 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	the Czech Republic	2008.BFT	suffocation risk as a result of the consumption of fruit jelly cups from Vietnam containing unauthorised E 407 - carrageenan	product (to be) destroyed
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BFU	aflatoxins (B1 = 0.3; Tot. = 0.3 / B1 = 4.2; Tot. = 4.4 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BFV	aflatoxins (B1 = 60,1; Tot. = 65,2 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BFW	aflatoxins (B1 = 0.4; Tot. = 0.4 / B1 = 15.2; Tot. = 16.9 / B1 = 0.4; Tot. = 0.4 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed
07/08/2008	Italy	2008.BFX	migration of chromium (1.95 mg/kg - ppm) and of nickel (23.84 mg/kg - ppm) from metal skewers from China	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BFY	aflatoxins (B1 = 1.8; Tot. = 4.1 / B1 = 2.4; Tot. = 3.3 μg/kg - ppb) in fig paste from Turkey	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BFZ	aflatoxins (B1 = 99; Tot. = 226 / B1 = 113; Tot. = 121 / B1 = 77; Tot. = 82 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BGA	aflatoxins (B1 = 2.3; Tot. = 4.1 / B1 = 17.3; Tot. = 60.4 / B1 = 4.2; Tot. = 9.8 μg/kg - ppb) in dried figs from Turkey	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BGB	aflatoxins (B1 = 3.5; Tot. = 3.9 / B1 = 4.1; Tot. = 4.6 / B1 = 3.9; Tot. = 4.3 μg/kg - ppb) in blanched pistachio kernels from Iran	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BGC	aflatoxins (B1 = 199; Tot. = 213 / B1 = 94; Tot. = 98 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BGD	aflatoxins (B1 = 82; Tot. = 86 / B1 = 112; Tot. = 120 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BGE	aflatoxins (B1 = 4; Tot. = 7.6 / B1 = 6.0; Tot. = 13.6 / B1 = 3.8; Tot. = 6.6 μg/kg - ppb) in dried figs from Turkey	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed
07/08/2008	Germany	2008.BGF	aflatoxins (B1 = 6.3; Tot. = 9.2 / B1 = 1.6; Tot. = 4.0 / B1 = 3.9; Tot. = 9.7 μg/kg - ppb) in hazelnut meal from Turkey	product (to be) re-dispatched
07/08/2008	Cyprus	2008.BGG	unauthorised use of colour E 122 - azorubine in strawberry flavoured oven-toasted rice grains from South Africa	product (to be) destroyed
08/08/2008	the United Kingdom	2008.BGH	suffocation risk as a result of the consumption of mini jelly cups containing unauthorised seaweed extract from Vietnam	product (to be) destroyed
08/08/2008	the Netherlands	2008.BGI	bad temperature control of frozen tumbled and cooked boneless skinless chicken breast from Brazil	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed
08/08/2008	the Netherlands	2008.BGJ	bad temperature control of frozen tumbled cooked and roasted boneless skinless chicken breast from Brazil	product (to be) redispatched or destroyed

TABLE 5: WITHDRAWALS OF PREVIOUS NOTIFICATIONS

DATE:	REF.:	NOTIFI-CATION:	OF WEEK	SUBJECT	REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL:
08/08/2008	add01	2008.0687	24	migration of silicon elastomere from pastry scraper from China	The analytical report was withdrawn because the current legal basis was insufficiently considered. For this reason the notification is withdrawn.