Dioxin scare highlights efficiency of EU alert system, says Byrne
The new European rapid alert system for food works well, says David Byrne following the discovery in the Netherlands of dioxin-contaminated potato by-products. High levels of dioxins were found in by-products such as potato peel, which is used for animal feed, at a Dutch potato processing company. As a result, the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed was immediately activated. As a result, all movement of animals from 162 farms in the Netherlands, eight in Belgium and three in Germany, all of which received the animal feed, has been blocked by the authorities. The Commission has been coordinating the tracing of the chain of deliveries through the new alert system thus avoiding another European food scare. Mr Byrne, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, has expressed confidence in the food chain and said that the contamination scare emphasises the importance of traceability and the progress made in reducing risks in the food production industry. 'So far, our system of traceability and alert notifications is working well. It is vital that the confidence of the consumer in our food chain is maintained,' said Mr Byrne. 'Member State authorities and the Commission are cooperating closely to ensure that safety of consumer is not jeopardised,' added the Commissioner. The national authorities of the Member States concerned are currently tracing the food chain. According to the Commission, consumer health and safety is not called into question. EU traceability legislation for food product comes into effect in January 2005. 'Sampling and analysis of the potato by-products delivered to the farms as well as of the farms' products of animal origin is ongoing,' states the Commission. 'Results should disclose in the coming days whether restrictions on some farms can be lifted. So far, analysis of the Dutch company's potato products intended for human consumption indicates that they do not contain unacceptable levels of dioxin.' The new EU regulation requires traceability for all stages in the value-adding chain. Companies will need to set up a system enabling them to rapidly and exhaustively trace products through the supply chain. The European Commission has already taken a number of steps to improve visibility in the supply chain. For example, in April, the Commission introduced TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System), the first EU-wide e-government application in the field of food safety aimed at improving the management of animal movements both from outside the EU and within the EU.
Countries
Belgium, Germany, Netherlands