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            COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION         

of 11 October 2004         

on the monitoring of background levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs

(notified under document number C(2004) 3462)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/705/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the second indent of Article 211 thereof,

Whereas:

HEREBY RECOMMENDS:

Done at Brussels, 11 October 2004.

For the Commission

David BYRNE            

Member of the Commission

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(1)OJ L 77, 16.3.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 684/2004 (OJ L 106, 15.4.2004, p. 6).

(2)OJ L 67, 9.3.2002, p. 69.

(3)OJ L 209, 6.8.2002, p. 5. Directive as amended by Directive 2004/44/EC (OJ L 113, 20.4.2004, p. 17).

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ANNEX I

Table: Overview of the recommended minimum number of food samples to analyse yearly. Distribution of samples is based on production in each country. Particular attention is paid to foodstuffs expected to have a large variation in background levels of dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs. This is particularly the case for fish.

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(*1)  The Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia joined the European Community on 1 May 2004. It is appropriate that the new Member States participate in the monitoring programme as soon as possible. It is however acknowledged that it is appropriate to provide a transitional arrangement for these new Member States and therefore no detailed minimum frequency for the random monitoring of the presence of dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs is recommended for these countries.

(1)  The figures mentioned in the table are minimum figures. Member States are invited to take more samples. The additional samples should be preferably taken from the categories of foodstuffs contributing significantly to the exposure: i.e. meat and meat products, fish and dairy products (farm milk).

(2)Meat and meat products: in addition to the mentioned categories, a number of samples should be taken from horsemeat, goatmeat, rabbitmeat and, to a limited extent, game.

(3)Fish and fishery products: the samples for wild fish and aquaculture should be divided over the species proportionate to the catch or production (for aquaculture). As guidance, the species-specific data on catch and production of fish and fishery products available in the brochure ‘Facts and figures on the CFP – basic data on the Common Fisheries Policy’, European Communities, 2004 can be used.

Using these data following numbers of samples to be taken for different fish species and fishery products can be given as guidance

Catches for Member States ≥ 10 samples recommended

Denmark: 15 samples  4 herring, 4 blue mussel, 7 other

Spain: 33 samples  7 skipjack tuna, 4 pilchard, 5 yellowfin tuna, 2 horse mackerel, 2 short-fin squid, 13 other

France: 18 samples  3 skipjack tuna, 3 yellowfin tuna, 2 pilchard, 2 saithe, 2 herring, 6 other

Netherlands: 14 samples  4 sardinellas, 2 horse mackerel, 3 herring, 2 mackerel and 3 other

Sweden: 10 samples  5 herring, 4 sprat and 1 cod

United Kingdom: 24 samples  6 mackerel, 4 herring, 3 haddock, 2 cod and 9 other

Aquaculture products for Member States ≥ 5 samples recommended

Denmark: 5 samples  4 trout and 1 eel

Germany: 5 samples  2 mussels, 2 trout and 1 carp

Greece: 7 samples  3 seabream, 2 seabass, 1 mussels and 1 other

Spain: 16 samples  8 mussels, 3 trout, 1 seabream, 1 oyster, 1 tuna and 2 other

France: 16 samples  8 oysters, 4 mussels, 3 trout and 1 carp

Italy: 14 samples  6 mussels, 3 clam, 3 trout, 1 seabass, 1 seabream

Netherlands: 7 samples  4 mussels, 1 eel, 1 oyster and 1 catfish

United Kingdom: 12 samples  9 salmon, 2 trout and 1 mussel

(4)Milk and milk products: at least four fifths of the milk samples should be taken from farm milk (mainly cow’s milk). It is also appropriate to take some additional samples of milk and milk products other than cow’s milk (goat milk etc.).

(5)Eggs: in addition to hen eggs, eggs of ducks, geese and quail should also be sampled.

(6)Oils and fats: it is appropriate that in addition to fish oil, also food supplements on the basis of fish oil (fish body oils and fish liver oils) are sampled.

(7)Vegetables: mainly leafy vegetables but also potatoes and other root and tuber vegetables.

Fruit: including berries and strawberries.

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ANNEX II

A.   Explanatory notes to the form for analytical results of dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs and other PCBs in food

1.   General information about the samples analysed

Country: name of the Member State where the monitoring has been carried out

Year: the year the monitoring was carried out

Product: food item analysed — describe the food item as precise as possible

Stage of marketing: place where the product (sample) was collected

Tissue: part of product analysed, for example, fat or muscle

Expression of results: the results are to be expressed on the basis on which the maximum levels have been established (Council Regulation (EC) No 2375/2001). In case of the analysis of non-dioxin-like PCBs, it is highly recommended to express the levels on the same basis.

Type of sampling: random sampling — analytical results from targeted sampling can also be reported but it must be clearly indicated that the sampling was targeted and does not necessarily reflect normal background levels

Methods: refer to the method used

Accredited: specify if the analytical method is accredited or not

Uncertainty (%): the percentage of the measurement uncertainty embodied in the analytical method.

2.   Specific information about the samples analysed

Sample No: number of samples of same kind of product analysed. If you have results of more samples than there are marked columns, just add new columns with the number at the end of the form.

Method of production: conventional/organic (as detailed as possible)

Area: insofar as relevant, district or region where the sample was collected, if possible with indication if it concerns rural area, urban area, industrial zone, harbour, open sea, etc. For example, Brussels — urban area, Mediterranean — open sea.

Number of subsamples: if the analysed sample is a pooled sample, the number of subsamples (number of individuals) should be notified. If the analytical result is just based on one sample, one should be notified. Number of subsamples in a pooled sample could vary, so please specify this for every sample.

Fat content (%): the percentage of fat content in the sample

Moisture content (%): the percentage of moisture content in the sample (if available).

3.   Results

Dioxins, furans, dioxin-like PCBs: results of every congener should be reported in ppt — picogram/gram (pg/g).

Non-dioxin-like PCBs: results of every congener should be reported in ppb — microgram/kilo (μg/kg).

LOQ: limit of quantification in pg/g or μg/kg (for non dioxin-like PCBs)

LOD: limit of detection in pg/g or μg/kg (for non dioxin-like PCBs)

For congeners determined but below the LOD (limit of detection) the case of results should be filled in as < LOD (the LOD should be reported as a value).

For congeners determined but being below LOQ (limit of quantification) the case should be filled in as < LOQ (the LOQ should be reported as a value).

For PCB congeners analysed in addition to the PCB-7 and dioxin-like PCBs the number of the PCB congener need to be added to the form, for example, 31, 99, 110, etc. If the sample is analysed for more PCB congeners than there are marked rows, just add new rows at the bottom of the form.

4.   Remarks

Besides the lipid extraction method used, additional relevant remarks to the submitted data can be mentioned.

B.   Form for reporting of congener specific analytical results of dioxins, furans, dioxin-like PCBs and other PCBs in food
Text of image
CountryRemarksYearLipid extraction method used:ProductStage of marketingTissueExpression of resultsType of samplingSample NoProduct methodAreaNumber of subsamplesFat content (%)Moisture content (%)1.Dioxins and furans (pg/g)CongenersTEFLODLOQRecovery (%)ResultsTEQMethods2,3,7,8 — TCDD1Detection1,2,3,7,8 — PeCDD1Unit1,2,3,4,7,8 — HxCDD0,1Accredited1,2,3,6,7,8 — HxCDD0,1Uncertainty (%)1,2,3,7,8,9 — HxCDD0,11,2,3,4,6,7,8 — HpCDD0,01OCDD0,00012,3,7,8 — TCDF0,11,2,3,7,8 — PeCDF0,052,3,4,7,8 — PeCDF0,51,2,3,4,7,8 — HxCDF0,11,2,3,6,7,8 — HxCDF0,11,2,3,7,8,9 — HxCDF0,1Total TEQ-PCDD/PCDF2,3,4,6,7,8 — HxCDF0,11,2,3,4,6,7,8 — HpCDF0,01Upperbound1,2,3,4,7,8,9 — HpCDF0,01MediumboundOCDF0,0001Lowerbound2.Non-ortho PCBs (pg/g or ng/kg)PCB congenersTEFLODLOQRecovery (%)ResultsTEQMethodsPCB-770,0001DetectionPCB-810,0001UnitPCB-1260,1AccreditedPCB-1690,01Uncertainty (%)3.Mono-ortho PCBs (pg/g or ng/kg)PCB congenersTEFLODLOQRecovery (%)ResultsTEQMethodsPCB-1050,0001DetectionPCB-1140,0005UnitPCB-1180,0001AccreditedPCB-1230,0001Total TEQ-PCBUncertainty (%)PCB-1560,0005PCB-1570,0005UpperboundPCB-1670,00001MediumboundPCB-1890,0001Lowerbound
Text of image
NON DIOXIN-LIKE PCBs4.PCB-7 (6) (μg/kg or ppb)PCB congenersLODLOQResultsMethodsPCB-28AccreditedPCB-52UnitPCB-101Uncertainty (%)PCB-118PCB-138PCB-153PCB-1805.Other PCBs (μg/kg or ppb)PCB congenersLODLOQResultsMethodsPCB-AccreditedPCB-UnitPCB-Uncertainty (%)PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-PCB-

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