. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NOR/8
4 April 2003
(03-1883)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   NORWAY
If applicable, name of local government involved:  The Norwegian Ministry of Health
2. Agency responsible:   Norwegian Food Control Authority
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Pomace oil and foodstuff containing or placed in such oil.
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Draft Regulation on
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in Olive Residue Oil (Pomace), 2 pages.
6. Description of content:  The draft regulation establishes a maximum limit of 2 µg
benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) per liter pomace oil.  It also states that importers and manufacturers
of pomace oil or products containing such oil must be able to document that the levels of
BaP in the pomace does not exceed the maximum limit laid down in the regulation.
This regulation also repeals the regulation suspending the placing on the market and import
of olive residue oil notified in August 2001.
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ]  protect territory from other
damage from pests.  This regulation on PAH in pomace oil is in line with regulations in
several EU Member States.  Pomace oil produced today may still contain unacceptable
levels of PAHs.  Many of these compounds – benzo(a)pyren in particular - are known to
cause cancer.  A maximum limit of benzo(a)pyrene is established to protect human health.
According to members of the Norwegian Scientific Committee on Food, a limit of 2 µg/l
gives an acceptable level of protection.
The regulation will replace the repealed regulation temporarily suspending the placing on
the market of olive residue oil (pomace) 11 July 2001 No. 837.
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
10. Proposed date of adoption:   To be determinedG/SPS/N/NOR/8
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11. Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined
12. Final date for comments:  1 May 2003
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:   Norwegian Food Control Authority, P.O. Box 8187 Dep, N-0034
Oslo, Norway;  Fax:  +47 23 21 70 01;  E-mail:  postmottak@snt.no
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority,  [ X ] National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Norwegian
Food Control Authority, P.O. Box 8187 Dep, N- 0034 Oslo, Norway;  Fax:  +47 23 21 70 01;
E-mail:  postmottak@snt.no