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, information is classified under two different headings : ALERT NOTIFICATIONS Alert notifications are sent when the food or feed presenting the 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 Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an alert notification have been withdrawn or are in the process of being withdrawn from the market.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 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. These notifications mostly concern food and feed consignments that have been tested and rejected at the external borders of the EU. Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an information notification have not reached the market or that all necessary measures have already been taken. The Commission publishes a weekly overview of alert and information notifications. 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 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. 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.
Week 2006/2 TABLE 1: ALERT NOTIFICATIONS Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food. DATE: NOTIFIED BY: REF.: REASON FOR NOTIFYING: COUNTRY OF 09/01/2006 Cyprus 2006.0018 altered organoleptic characteristics of ITALY chocolate eggs 09/01/2006 Norway 2006.0019 Salmonella typhimurium in frozen wild duck fillets THE NETHERLANDS VIA BELGIUM 10/01/2006 Denmark 2006.0020 Salmonella typhimurium DT 104 in loin ribs FRANCE 10/01/2006 Spain 2006.0021 Listeria monocytogenes in goat cheese SPAIN 10/01/2006 Estonia 2006.0022 too high content of colour E 102 - tartrazine, POLAND of colour E 122 - azorubine and of colour E 129 - Allura Red AC in cake decorations 10/01/2006 Germany 2006.0023 migration of 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane, of primary aromatic amines and of aniline CHINA (HONG KONG) VIA FRANCE from nylon kitchen utensils 10/01/2006 Germany 2006.0024 high content of morphine in poppy seed THE NETHERLANDS 10/01/2006 Germany 2006.0025 migration of primary aromatic amines from CHINA multi purpose kitchen strainer 10/01/2006 Italy 2006.0026 migration of isopropyl thioxanthone from ITALY packaging of milk for babies 11/01/2006 Austria 2006.0027 unauthorised colours Sudan 1 and Sudan 4 GERMANY in paprika powder 11/01/2006 Slovakia 2006.0028 too high content of colour E 124 - Ponceau 4R / cochineal red A in fruit flavour candy - boot laces 11/01/2006 Slovakia 2006.0029 too high content of colour E 124 - Ponceau 4R / cochineal red A in Christmas Candles Jelly Berries SPAIN VIA CZECH REPUBLIC ROMANIA VIA CZECH REPUBLIC 11/01/2006 Denmark 2006.0030 unauthorised novel food supplement THE UNITED STATES 11/01/2006 Denmark 2006.0031 unauthorised novel food supplement THE UNITED STATES 12/01/2006 Italy 2006.0032 migration of isopropyl thioxanthone from AUSTRIA packaging of chocolate milk 12/01/2006 France 2006.0033 too high content of fluoride in monocalcium FRANCE phosphate 12/01/2006 Norway 2006.0034 nitrites unauthorised in smoked or cured NORWAY salmon and trout 12/01/2006 Estonia 2006.0035 too high content of hydroxymethylfurfural HUNGARY (HMF) in honey 12/01/2006 Italy 2006.0036 migration of isopropyl thioxanthone from AUSTRIA packaging of cocoa milk 12/01/2006 Hungary 2006.0037 spoilage of eggs POLAND 13/01/2006 Czech Republic 2006.0038 aflatoxins in broken brazil nut kernels BOLIVIA VIA UNITED KINGDOM 13/01/2006 Hungary 2006.0039 high content of morphine in poppy seed SLOVAKIA 13/01/2006 Germany 2006.0040 nitrosamines in doppelbock beer GERMANY 13/01/2006 Germany 2006.0041 methiocarb in wine grapes SPAIN
TABLE 2: INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food. DATE: NOTIFIED BY: REF.: REASON FOR NOTIFYING: COUNTRY OF 09/01/2006 Germany 2006.ABK aflatoxins in pistachios in shell IRAN 09/01/2006 Germany 2006.ABL aflatoxins in pistachios in shell IRAN 09/01/2006 Germany 2006.ABM aflatoxins in hazelnut kernels TURKEY 09/01/2006 Luxembourg 2006.ABN aflatoxins in pistachios in shell IRAN 09/01/2006 Spain 2006.ABO sulphites unauthorised in cinnamon and SRI LANKA cinnamon tree flowers (Cinnamomum verum) 09/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ABP too high count of Escherichia coli in frozen INDIA sliced coconut 09/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ABQ Pseudomonas aeruginosa in holy water SAUDI ARABIA 09/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ABR aflatoxins in peanut butter GHANA 09/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ABS aflatoxins in peanut butter GHANA 09/01/2006 Spain 2006.ABT cadmium in frozen whole raw banana AUSTRALIA prawns (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis) 09/01/2006 Norway 2006.ABU unauthorised colours Sudan 1 and Sudan 4 TURKEY in paprika powder 10/01/2006 Germany 2006.ABV histamine in tunafish parts in own juice THAILAND 10/01/2006 Belgium 2006.ABW illegal import of poultry meat CHINA 10/01/2006 Spain 2006.ABX sulphites unauthorised in frozen crabs BRAZIL 10/01/2006 Italy 2006.ABY migration of chromium from steel cutlery set TURKEY 10/01/2006 France 2006.ABZ aflatoxins in pistachios IRAN 10/01/2006 Estonia 2006.ACA parasites - tapeworms in oil fish fillets skin VIETNAM on (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) 10/01/2006 Italy 2006.ACB aflatoxins in pistachios in shell IRAN 10/01/2006 Belgium 2006.ACC illegal import of poultry meat, fishery CHINA products, salami and dried meat 10/01/2006 Italy 2006.ACD migration of isopropyl thioxanthone from GERMANY packaging of milk and cocoa beverages 10/01/2006 Italy 2006.ACE migration of isopropyl thioxanthone from ITALY packaging of grapefruit juice 10/01/2006 Italy 2006.ACF migration of isopropyl thioxanthone from ITALY packaging of pineapple juice 10/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ACG 3-monochlor-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) in THE PHILIPPINES soy sauce 10/01/2006 Sweden 2006.ACH aflatoxins in natural hazelnut meal TURKEY 11/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ACI aflatoxins in savoury snack with coated SINGAPORE peanuts 11/01/2006 Germany 2006.ACJ aflatoxins in raw pistachio nuts with shell IRAN 11/01/2006 Germany 2006.ACK aflatoxins in raw pistachio nuts with shell IRAN 11/01/2006 Germany 2006.ACL aflatoxins in raw pistachio nuts with shell IRAN 11/01/2006 Germany 2006.ACM aflatoxins in raw pistachio nuts with shell IRAN 11/01/2006 France 2006.ACN aflatoxins in dried figs TURKEY 11/01/2006 Spain 2006.ACO too high count of aerobic mesophiles in VIETNAM frozen octopus 11/01/2006 Spain 2006.ACP unauthorised substances chloramphenicol, nitrofuran (metabolite) - furaltadone (AMOZ) and nitrofuran (metabolite) - nitrofurazone (SEM) in frozen prawns (Litopenaeus vannamei) VIETNAM
DATE: NOTIFIED BY: REF.: REASON FOR NOTIFYING: COUNTRY OF 11/01/2006 Germany 2006.ACQ aflatoxins in peanut crisps and peanut CHINA biscuits 11/01/2006 Germany 2006.ACR procymidone in lettuce ITALY 11/01/2006 Denmark 2006.ACS unauthorised novel food supplement THE UNITED STATES 11/01/2006 Italy 2006.ACT ochratoxin A in durum wheat CANADA 11/01/2006 Denmark 2006.ACU unauthorised novel food noni juice THE UNITED STATES 12/01/2006 Spain 2006.ACV too high content of sulphites in frozen crabs BRAZIL 12/01/2006 Finland 2006.ACW benzethonium chloride in grapefruit seed THE UNITED STATES extract 12/01/2006 Germany 2006.ACX aflatoxins in roasted and salted pistachio TURKEY nuts 12/01/2006 Norway 2006.ACY nitrites unauthorised in frozen smoked NORWAY salmon slices 12/01/2006 The Netherlands 2006.ACZ aflatoxins in peanut kernels CHINA 13/01/2006 Germany 2006.ADA unauthorised colours Sudan 1 and Sudan 4 TURKEY in paprika flakes 13/01/2006 Germany 2006.ADB unauthorised colours Sudan 4 and Sudan GHANA Red 7B in palm oil 13/01/2006 Italy 2006.ADC aflatoxins in pistachio nuts in shell IRAN 13/01/2006 Italy 2006.ADD aflatoxins in peanuts in shell EGYPT 13/01/2006 Hungary 2006.ADE insects in dried figs TURKEY 13/01/2006 Italy 2006.ADF cadmium in frozen squid (Loligo duvauceli) INDIA and cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) 13/01/2006 Germany 2006.ADG aflatoxins in pistachio nuts with shell IRAN 13/01/2006 Germany 2006.ADH aflatoxins in pistachio nuts with shell IRAN 13/01/2006 Germany 2006.ADI aflatoxins in pistachio nuts with shell IRAN 13/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ADJ aflatoxins in roasted hazelnut kernels TURKEY 13/01/2006 Italy 2006.ADK cadmium in frozen whole cleaned cuttlefish INDIA (Sepia officinalis) 13/01/2006 Spain 2006.ADL E 219 - sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate CHINA unauthorised and unauthorised use of colour E 102 - tartrazine in pickled vegetables 13/01/2006 United Kingdom 2006.ADM aflatoxins in garlic cracker nuts THE PHILIPPINES 13/01/2006 Portugal 2006.ADN dioxins in poultry meat PORTUGAL TABLE 3: CORRIGENDA TO PREVIOUS NOTIFICATIONS DATE: REF.: NOTIFI- OF CORRIGENDUM: 13/01/2006 add01 2005.977 53 The implicated product was imported via France and not via Spain. TABLE 4: WITHDRAWALS OF PREVIOUS NOTIFICATIONS DATE: REF.: NOTIFI- OF REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL: 12/01/2006 add01 2005.CSW 44 On the basis of new facts corrected test results and a repeated risk analysis the measures instituted at relevant agricultural holdings were lifted
DATE: REF.: NOTIFI- OF REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL: 13/01/2006 add09 2005.863 48 On the request of Italy and with agreement of Poland this notification is hereby withdrawn 12/01/2006 add03 2005.927 51 The reports dated 12.12.2005 are not correct. According to the new results, Ochratoxin A was at a level of 0.3 µg/kg. Therefore this notification is hereby withdrawn. 12/01/2006 add03 2005.928 51 The reports dated 12.12.2005 are not correct. According to the new results, Ochratoxin A was at a level of 0.3 µg/kg. Therefore this notification is hereby withdrawn. 09/01/2006 add01 2005.DEG 51 Confirmatory analysis did not show presence of cloxacillin.