Food Law News - EU - 1997

29 July 1997: CONTAMINANTS - Maximum Levels for Aflatoxins in Foodstuffs

MAFF Letter, 29 July 1997

Maximum Levels for Aflatoxins in Foodstuffs

The European Commission has now circulated a pre-draft proposal for maximum levels for aflatoxins in foodstuffs, together with the associated documents on methods for sampling, sample preparation and analysis criteria, to European organisations. Comments are invited. The MAFF letter represents a formal consultation on the proposals with interested organisation in the UK.

When considering the proposals, MAFF indicate that the Commission has made the following comments:
“Although the proposals would not allow lower limits that those cited in the Regulations to be applied in Member States, it would allow national provisions to exist for commodities not covered by the Regulations.” and
“Systematic checking would not be mandatory so there should not be a financial burden on the trade in those commodities which rarely experience contamination.”

MAFF stress that this is likely to be the last chance for discussion prior to the meeting on the 15 September.

For previous related item, see 11 July 1997.