# Commission Regulation (EU) No 1067/2013Show full title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1067/2013 of 30 October 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels            of the contaminants dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in liver of terrestrial animals (Text with EEA relevance)         

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U.K.

# Commission Regulation (EU) No 1067/2013                     

# of 30 October 2013

# amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of the contaminants dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like                        PCBs in liver of terrestrial animals                     

# (Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in                           food(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,                        

Whereas:

(1)Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs(2) sets maximum levels for dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a range of foodstuffs, including in the                              liver of certain terrestrial animals.

(2)The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (The Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has, on a                              request from the Commission, adopted on 5 July 2011 an opinion on the risk to public health related to the presence of high                              levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in liver from sheep and deer(3).

(3)The Commission requested that the opinion should indicate whether there is a potential increase in consumer health risk for                              subgroups of the population consuming such products (e.g. high consumers, people following specific diets, etc.). The opinion                              should also explore possible reasons for the findings of high levels of dioxins and PCBs in sheep and deer liver, and to provide                              scientific elements on the appropriateness to establish in future regulatory levels in liver on a product basis rather than                              on a fat basis.

(4)The Panel concluded that regular consumption of sheep liver would result on average in an approximate 20 % increase of the                              background exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. On individual occasions, consumption of sheep liver could result in high                              intakes exceeding the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of those contaminants. The Panel concluded that the frequent consumption                              of sheep liver, particularly by women of child-bearing age and children, may be a potential health concern.

(5)The Panel further concluded that soil and sediments are natural reservoirs of dioxins and PCBs. Soil-to-plant transfer of                              dioxins and PCBs via the root apparatus is generally of minor importance. In the past few years a number of sheep liver samples                              from various European countries were found to contain high concentrations of dioxins and PCBs although not being associated                              with specific contamination sources. For sheep, grazing activity is a primary factor for exposure. When grazing, intake of                              soil can occur through particles deposited on vegetables or directly when feeding on pasture herbage close to ground surface.                              Soil intake is remarkably variable and strongly seasonal: a median soil intake has been reported in the order of 8 % of dry                              matter intake. On the whole, soil intake might contribute substantially to sheep’s exposure to dioxins and PCBs. Limited data                              are available concerning the transfer of dioxins and/or PCBs from feed to sheep liver. Depending on the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin                              (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) or PCB congeners considered, reported transfer ratios varied from 5 to 175 and                              were approximately four times higher for liver than for meat or kidney.

(6)EFSA concluded also that sheep liver is an important storage organ of dioxins and PCBs. The differences in metabolism could                              partly explain the relatively high liver storage of dioxins and related compounds in sheep compared to cattle.

(7)EFSA concluded that even if there would be a possible hepatic sequestration and the dioxins and PCBs would not be totally                              associated with the fat fraction of the liver, this would have no influence on the result, whether expressed on lipid or fresh                              weight basis, as all dioxins and PCBs are extracted during the analytical procedure irrespective of the liver compartment                              where they are present.

(8)The European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food was requested by the Commission to investigate                              how different extraction methods influence the levels of dioxins and PCBs in sheep liver with regard to reporting the analytical                              result on fat or wet weight basis. The EURL concluded that the variations for concentrations of dioxins and PCBs were considerably                              higher on fat basis compared to wet weight basis. The concentrations of dioxins and PCBs on fat basis in sheep liver were                              dependant on the applied extraction method or solvents and therefore on the resulting fat content. When comparing results                              on wet weight, the levels of dioxins and PCBs were quite comparable.

(9)Therefore in order to ensure comparable results and an uniform enforcement approach across the Union as regards dioxins and                              PCBs in liver of terrestrial animals, it is appropriate to establish the maximum levels on a wet weight basis as was already                              established for fish liver and derived products thereof.

(10)It is appropriate to provide that the maximum levels are not applicable to foodstuffs which are lawfully placed on the market                              before the date of application.

(11)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain                              and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

## Article 1U.K.Amending provisions

In the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, point 5.2 is replaced by the following:

## Article 2U.K.Transitional provisions

1.This Regulation shall not apply to products which were placed on the market at a date prior to 1 January 2014 in conformity                        with the provisions applicable at such date.                  

2.The burden of proving when the products were placed on the market shall be borne by the food business operator.                  

## Article 3U.K.Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the *Official Journal of the European Union.*                   

It shall apply from 1 January 2014.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 30 October 2013.

*For the Commission*                            

*The President*                            

José Manuel Barroso                            

1

OJ L 37, 13.2.1993, p. 1.                           

2

OJ L 364, 20.12.2006, p. 5.                           

3

EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (Contam); Scientific Opinion on the risk to public health related to the presence                              of high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in liver from sheep and deer. *EFSA Journal* 2011; 9(7):2297. [71 pp.] doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2297. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal