Chlorate EC Meeting of 19Th September 2014

Chlorate EC Meeting of 19Th September 2014

Chlorate – EC meeting of 19th September 2014.

Participants:

MichealFlueh, EC

Frans Verstraete EC

Almut Bitterhof, EC Pesticides (E.3)

Sylvie Coulon, EC Hygiene

Veerle Van heusden, EC (E.3)

Dora Szentpaly-Kleis, (EC)

Richard Stadler, Nestlé

FaraiMaphosa, SNE,
Yves le Bail-Collet, Cargill,
Nigel Thorgrimsson, Profel,
NeleCattoor, Profel,
Silvia Selandari, Profel
Helen Simonin, EDA
Alice Costa, Caobisco
Patrick Fox, FoodDrinkEurope
Beate Kettlitz, FoodDrinkEurope

FoodDrinkEurope brought the following Key Messages across:

  1. The presence of chlorate in food is obviously much broader than initially expected and the levels are higher than originally reported following the data shown today.
  2. Chlorate traces on potable water and on food commodities is a natural consequence of water disinfection.
  3. Cleaning agents/ disinfectants used in a responsible manner are an integral part of Good Manufacturing Practices
  4. Disinfection plays an essential role in the control of microbial, viral or parasitic pathogens, limiting their occurrence in food
  5. The entire value chain, including water suppliers, needs careful review to understand the different sources of Chlorate in food.
  6. The intended use of the substance should be taken into consideration when setting a maximum residue level.
  7. The current default 0.01 mg/kg in foods for infants and young children will put at stake the whole microbiological safety of the entire food category
  8. An individual risk assessment should be carried out for each biocide, taking into consideration not only the chemical risks, but also the benefits brought by permitted disinfectants from a microbiological safety perspective
  9. Data shown in Annex 1 indicate that there is no distinction between different production methods (organic versus conventional produce)
  10. FoodDrinkEurope are committed to collect data by the end of 2014, and submit to EFSA; and have also expressed concern that the existing monitoring exercise was too limited and would not capture all products of potential concern.

FoodDrinkEurope presented the attached information (Annex 1) which is based on the FoodDrinkEurope Chlorate paper (Annex 2). Sectors attending the meeting presented their current findings. For Profel their data shows that the results, from one company following exhaustive production trials targeted at reducing chlorate levels, and do not reflect typical chlorate levels for the industry. This table is included to illustrate the uptake of chlorate in the finished product from chlorate in the potable water. For the first time data was presented from the chocolate, biscuit and confectionary and Specialised Nutrition sector.

M. Flueh confirmed that at the meeting of the standing committee of the 22nd where there is a chlorate update on the agenda, the proposed statement of the June meeting will not be on the table again, due to the limited chance to succeed. Rather he said that they will try to come to a workable interim solution while waiting for the EFSA opinion.

The Commission also drew are attention to the meeting of the Regulatory Committee of Organic Farming which is led by DG Agriculture on the 23rd September, which will be attended by a representative of DG Sanco. (Annex 3)

The questions sent to the EFSA related to the toxicological aspect of chlorate. Commission confirmed that it is not necessary to ask EFSA to also include Hygiene aspect as there is an EFSA opinion on Biocides. Instead the Commission confirmed that, of course, when considering risk management measures hygiene aspects will be taken into consideration.

As regards the RASFF, our attention was drawn to the fact that since June there has been no new Rapid Alerts related to Chlorate; this is a result of the Commission on-going discussions with member states on the subject, however the Commission will not send an official request to M.S to not submit Rapid alert notifications related to Chlorate in food. The Commission also confirmed that they are in regular contact with the Rapid Alert before any notification is put in the system.

The commission reminded the participants that Art.20 of 396/2005 (concentration and diluted factor during processing) applied to the case at stake. Due to lack of time the practical application of chlorate (contribution of water) was not further elaborated.

The Commission took note of the broadening of the issue and the time constraints which were expressed, and are willing to give feedback from the SCoFCAH

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