. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/EEC/203
20 June 2003
(03-3319)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:   European Commission, General Directorate for Health and
Consumer Protection
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):  Apple products and food preparati on [CN 2001 to 2009] containing apple;
fruit juices [CN 2009] in particular apple juice ready to drink [CN 2009 71] and mixturesof juices [CN 2009 90].  Infant formulae containing apple [CN 2104 and 2106].  Fermented
beverages derived from apples or containing  apple juice [CN 2206], spirituous beverages
distilled from fruit [CN 2208].  ICS 67.160.20
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
European Communities (EC) member States and third countries exporting to the EC.
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   SANCO/03139/2002 –
Rev.1, Draft Commission Regulation amending  Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 setting
maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (4 pages).
6. Description of content:   This draft regulation establishes harmonized maximum levels for
patulin within the European Comm unity in the following commodities:
• Fruit juices in particular apple juices 50 µg/kg.
• Spirit drinks containing apple juice 50 µg/kg.
• Solid apple products 25 µg/kg.
• Apple juice for infants and young children 10 µg/kg.
• Baby food 10 µg/kg.
These levels could be reviewed to take account of implementation of the " Code of practice
for the prevention and reduction of patulin contamination in apple juice and apple juice
ingredients in other beverages " (see ALINORM 03/12, §120-122, and Appendix XI,
pages 92-98).
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.G/SPS/N/EEC/203
Page 2
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:
The 34th Session of the CODEX Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
(11-15 March 2002) forwarded to the 26 Session of the Codex Alimentarius
(30 June-5 July 2003) a level of 50 µg/kg.  for apple juice and apple juice ingredients for
consideration (ALINORM 3/12, §118 and Appendix X, page 91).  This level is likely to be
adopted as a General Standard, and is identical to what is proposed in the draft regulatory
text notified hereby.  In addition, the notified text sets maximum levels for patulin in other
specific food commodities such as infant formulae, young children and baby food.
The 35th Session of the CODEX Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
(17-21 March 2003) forwarded the draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction
of Patulin Contamination in Apple Juice and Apple Juice Ingredients in Other Beverages
to the 26th session of the CODEX Alimentarius Commission, for final adoption at Step 8
(ALINORM 03/12A §123 and Appendix IX, pages 102-107).
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available: European
Commission Document SANCO/ 03139/2002 – Rev.1 (Available in all EC languages)
10. Proposed date of adoption:   August 2003
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   1 November 2003
12. Final date for comments:  25 July 2003.  Comments concerning the Code of practice for
the prevention and reduction of patulin contamination in apple juice and apple juiceingredients in other beverages are welcomed any time.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] EC enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority,  [ X ] EC enquiry point, or
address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The opinion of the Scientific Committee for Food is available at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out55_en.pdf