At the urging of member states, the first meeting in Brussels on the Fipronil case, which Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis had belatedly set for Sept. 26, was brought forward to Aug. 30. Its outcome follows.
The Section ‘Novel Foods and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain‘ of the PAFF Committee, (1) in which experts from national governmental representations and the European Commission participate, met on 30.8.17. On the agenda, exchange of views and discussion regarding the use of products containing Fipronil and other substances-such as Amitraz-in laying hen farms.
The urgent summons was prompted by the need to shed light on a case that has caused widespread concern among European consumers toward the egg production chain. An essential food in people’s diets, the consumption of which is in fact recommended in all nutritional guidelines, because of the high biological value proteins-as well as cheap, therefore available to large segments of the population-that it offers.
Initial assessments of the risk associated with the consumption of eggs bearing traces of the acaricides under alert lead to the conclusion that there is essentially no danger to human health. (2) The most serious aspect of this crisis, however, is the serious delays of the national contact points in the Netherlands and Belgium in notifying the European Commission of the alert, at least 8 months after learning of it.
Member States and the Commission therefore agreed on the need to meet-better late than never (!)-the deadlines for notification of alerts in the RASFF (‘Rapid Alert System on Food & Feed‘) system. Which must mandatorily be followed, in situations like this, by the immediate initiation of recall and recall procedures. (3) A uniform approach must also be adopted in the management of animals and eggs from farms affected by the contamination. After establishing the concentration factors to be applied for conformity assessment of egg products.
The European Commission has asked member states to establish appropriate monitoring plans on laying hen farms, as well as on eggs and meat at the slaughterhouse. Extending the search to other pesticides that could affect the supply chain under investigation. (4) Although the Fipronil case can be traced back to fraudulent activities-caused by the illicit use of banned pesticides-the need for supply chain operators to take appropriate self-control measures, in light of the reports that have emerged, to prevent unintentional contamination and ensure the absolute safety of products has been recalled.
The Italian Ministry of Health (5) actively participated in the debate. The sampling and inspection plan was initiated in a timely manner, demonstrating the efficiency of the national system of official public controls. (6)
In conclusion, as has already been made clear, there is no reason to worry about the safety of our eggs or the poultry supply chain in the Bel Paese. The blanket inspection program-shed by shed-established by Assoavi will provide additional peace of mind that there is no risk on any product released for sale. Rather, a Consortium for the management of the ‘Italian Seal’ should be organized as soon as possible to assure global consumers about the integrity of our supply chains.
Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. Cf. https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/reg-com_toxic_20170830_agenda.pdf
(2) SEE http://www.ceirsa.org/leggitutto.php?idrif=797
(3) Pursuant to reg. EC 178/02, so-called General Food Law, Article 19
(4) Investigations began on the companies Poultry Vision (Belgium) and Chickfriend (Netherlands). The illicit products first learned of are marketed under the brand names ‘DEGA 16’ and ‘Cooper Boost’. The most thorough checks moreover include the analysis of possible presence of residues of about 240 pesticide active ingredients
(5) To whom should be ascribed the sole imprudence of an initial risk communication later belied by the facts
(6) With the only flaw, which we hope will be remedied immediately, of not yet having extended controls to cage farms
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
