# CE2004084EN.01024901.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/249 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/249

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(2004/C 84 E/0295)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3621/03

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject:   Presence of chlophen in food produced in various regions of Greece

Subject:

The published conclusions drawn from research carried out by Athens University and the Demokritos research centre have established the presence of chlophen in milk produce in various regions of Greece, such as Kozani and Aspropirgos.

In view of the danger associated with the presence of chlophen in food and the fact that these regions are industrial areas in which clophen discharges have been identified in the past, will the Commission say:

| 1. | whether the competent authorities have carried out checks in the above regions, |
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1.

whether the competent authorities have carried out checks in the above regions,

| 2. | what measures the Commission intends to take to test for the presence of clophen in food produced in the above regions, and |
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2.

what measures the Commission intends to take to test for the presence of clophen in food produced in the above regions, and

| 3. | whether there will be a special control programme and, if so, when it will begin to operate? Should clophen be found in food and thus constitute a serious health hazard to consumers, what measures will the Commission take? |
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3.

whether there will be a special control programme and, if so, when it will begin to operate? Should clophen be found in food and thus constitute a serious health hazard to consumers, what measures will the Commission take?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 2004)

(7 April 2004)

As announced in the holding reply to this written question, the Commission requested the reports from research carried out by Athens University and the Demokritos research centre concerning the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in milk produced in various regions of Greece. However, despite several requests to the competent authorities of Greece and the authors of the report, this information has not been received.

On the other hand, the competent authorities of Greece have informed the Commission that in accordance with Commission Recommendation 2002/201/EC of 4 March 2002 on the reduction of the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in feedingstuffs and foodstuffs (1), a national monitoring programme was initiated in 2003 for dioxins, furans and PCBs.

1

The analyses were performed in accordance with Commission Directive 2002/69/EC of 26 July 2002 laying down the sampling methods and the methods of analysis for the official control of dioxins and the determination of dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs (2) and Commission Directive 2002/70/EC of 26 July 2002 establishing requirements for the determination of levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feedingstuffs (2).

2

2

The results of this monitoring programme have been provided to the Commission. They indicate that the levels of dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs in food (including milk) of Greek origin are low. However, the competent authority of Greece indicated that the national monitoring programme did not include milk samples originating from the regions mentioned in the question. The competent authority of Greece made the commitment to include in the national monitoring programme for 2004 milk samples as well as samples of other foodstuffs produced in these regions. In the case where levels above the EU maximum levels are found, appropriate measures will be taken to avoid unacceptably contaminated foodstuffs entering the food chain.

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(1)  OJ L 67, 9.3.2002.

1

(2)  OJ L 209, 6.8.2002.

2

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