WRITTEN QUESTION E-1545/03 by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission. Dioxin content of hydrolysates.
Date: 2003-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal nutrition, fish, foodstuffs legislation, toxic substance

C 11 E/190

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

(2004/C 11 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1545/03

by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: Dioxin content of hydrolysates

Directive 2001/102/EC (1) on the undesirable substances and products in animal nutrition states that
animal feedstuffs may only be put into circulation if they are ‘sound, genuine and of merchantable quality’.
The Directive lays down the maximum dioxin level for such feedstuffs.

Dioxin occurs naturally in fish, where it accumulates in the fat cells. In the case of the fish meal referred to
in the Annex to the Directive, the dioxin level must be lower than 1,25 picograms/gr. and, in the case of
fish oil, lower than 6 picograms/gr. The difference in the dioxin levels is due to the presence of greater or
smaller quantities of fat.

The problem is the same when it comes to fish hydrolysate. The process of solubilising fish waste by
hydrolysis is employed to produce proteins used to feed young mammals and for aquaculture fish rearing.
It contains a high level of fat, and hence of dioxin. However, the product is not specifically listed in the
Directive: it is neither a fish meal nor mixed feed, and classifying it as fishfood would restrict its sale to the
aquaculture sector.

Could the Commission envisage amending the Directive to create a new category and to give specific
classification to this hydrolysate product?

(1) OJ L 6, 10.1.2002, p. 45.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2003)

Council Directive 1999/29/EC of 22 April 1999 on the undesirable substances and products in animal
nutrition (1), as amended by Council Directive 2001/102/EC of 27 November 2001, establishes maximum
levels for dioxins in various feed materials and feedingstuffs. Directive 2002/32/EC of the Parliament and
of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed (2) repeals and replaces Directive
1999/29/EC with effect from 1 August 2003. A maximum level for dioxins of six nanograms per kilogram
(ng)/kg has been set for fish oil and 1,25 ng /kg for products and by-products of fish with the exception of
fish oil but including fishmeal and fish protein hydrolysates.

Fishmeal contains typically 8 to 12 % fat, while fish protein hydrolysates contain more than 20 % fat. This
issue has only recently been brought to the attention of the Commission. Recognising the fact that dioxins
are accumulating in the fat and taking into account the specific nature of this product in particular its high
fat content, the Commission has recently established a separate level for dioxins of 2,25 ng/kg in fish
protein hydrolysates containing more than 20 % fat by Commission Directive 2003/57/EC of 17 June
2003 amending Directive 2002/32/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable
substances in animal feed (3).

(1) OJ L 115, 4.5.1999.
(2) OJ L 140, 30.5.2002.
(3) OJ L 151, 19.6.2003.