Commission Recommendation of 16 November 2006 on the monitoring of background levels of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs (notified under document number C(2006) 5425)   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-11-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: data processing, food inspection, food safety, food standard, foodstuff, toxic substance

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Official Journal of the European Union

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COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION

of 16 November 2006

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

(notified under document number C(2006) 5425)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/794/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(6)

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

Whereas,

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March
2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in
foodstuffs (1) establishes maximum levels for dioxins and
for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCBs) in foodstuffs.

It
the
is necessary to generate reliable data across
European Community on the presence of dioxins,
furans and dioxin-like PCBs in the widest range of food-
stuffs in order to have a clear picture of the time trends
in background presence of these substances in foodstuffs.

of

2006/88/EC

Recommendation

6
Commission
the presence of
February 2006 on the reduction of
furans and PCBs in feedingstuffs and food-
dioxins,
stuffs (2)
that Member States perform
recommends
random monitoring of the presence of dioxins, dioxin-
like PCBs and, if possible, non-dioxin-like PCBs in food-
stuffs
to Commission Recommendation
according
2004/705/EC (3).

to the
Recommendation 2004/705/EC recommends
Member States minimum frequency of samples to be
analysed yearly for the different categories of foodstuffs
as well the format of reporting of the results for the
the background presence of dioxins,
monitoring of
furans and dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs. For the new
Member States joining the European Community on
1 May 2004 a transitional arrangement was provided.

is appropriate to amend the current monitoring
It
programme by taking into account
the experiences
gained. Recommendation 2004/705/EC should therefore
be replaced by a new Recommendation.

regular basis

reported on a

It is important that data gathered under this Recommen-
dation are
to the
Commission. The Commission will ensure the compi-
lation of those data into a database. Data from recent
years obtained by making use of a method of analysis
complying with the
down by
Commission Directive 2002/69/EC of 30 July 2002
laying down the sampling methods and the methods of
analysis for the official control of dioxins and the deter-
and
mination of dioxin-like PCBs
reflecting background levels should also be provided,

in foodstuffs (4)

requirements

laid

HEREBY RECOMMENDS:

1. That Member States perform from the year 2007 onwards
until 31 December 2008 the monitoring of the background
presence of dioxins, furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated
biphenyls
in foodstuffs using the recommended
minimum frequency of samples to be analysed yearly, as
foreseen in the table of Annex I as guidance.

(PCBs)

2. That Member States, if possible, also perform the analysis on

non dioxin-like PCBs in the same samples.

3. That Member States provide on a regular basis to the
Commission the monitoring data with the information and
in the format as foreseen in Annex II for compilation into
one database. Data from recent years obtained by making
use of
complying with the
requirements,
laid down by Directive 2002/69/EC and
reflecting background levels should also be provided.

a method of

analysis

Recommendation 2004/705/EC is hereby repealed. References
to the
construed as
references to this Recommendation.

repealed Recommendation shall be

Done at Brussels, 16 November 2006.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 77, 16.3.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation

(EC) No 199/2006 (OJ L 32, 4.2.2006, p. 34).

(2) OJ L 42, 14.2.2006, p. 26.
(3) OJ L 321, 22.10.2004, p. 45.

(4) 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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Official Journal of the European Union

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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.

ANNEX I

Product, including also
derived products

Aquaculture
(*)

No of samples

250

Wild
caught
fish
(**)

483

Meat
(***)

500

Milk
(****)

250

Eggs
(*****)

Other
(******)

Total

250

267

2 000

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

4

4

16

6

26

25

8

22

2

7

3

4

4

4

United Kingdom

15

6

2

2

2

2

3

2

10

2

2

4

6

3

54

250

Czech republic

Estonia

Cyprus

Latvia

Lithuania

Hungary

Malta

Poland

Slovenia

Slovakia

Bulgaria

Romania

Iceland

Norway

Total

Remarks on the Table

8

20

28

8

36

30

15

24

3

18

3

12

10

12

30

3

6

6

6

6

3

3

18

3

3

3

3

69

94

483

18

14

55

14

36

55

15

46

6

26

15

12

10

10

40

11

7

4

7

7

11

4

25

7

7

9

11

7

11

8

7

34

8

13

28

7

20

3

13

8

6

6

6

19

5

3

3

3

3

5

3

13

3

3

5

9

3

3

7

4

25

4

24

28

5

26

3

20

6

5

4

4

20

5

2

2

2

2

10

2

16

2

2

5

9

2

4

7

6

36

7

21

27

4

26

3

8

7

6

6

6

52

55

194

47

156

193

54

164

20

92

43

45

40

42

20

144

5

4

3

4

4

5

3

20

4

4

4

10

3

4

35

24

20

24

24

37

17

102

21

21

30

48

87

170

2 000

500

250

250

267

The figures mentioned in the table are minimum figures. Member States are invited to take more samples.

(*) Aquaculture: The samples for aquaculture should be divided over the fish species proportionate to the production.
As guidance, the species specific data on production of fish and fishery products ‘Facts and Figures on the CFP —
basic data on the Common Fisheries Policy’ (1), European Communities, 2006 and the map ‘Aquaculture in the
European Union’ (2). can be used. Special attention should be paid to oysters, mussels and eel.

(1) http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/publications/facts/pcp06_en.pdf
(2) http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/publications/aquaculture05_en.pdf

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(**) Wild caught fish: The samples for wild caught fish should be divided over the fish species proportionate to the
catch. As guidance, the species specific data on production of fish and fishery products ‘Facts and Figures on the
CFP — basic data on the Common Fisheries Policy’, European Communities, Edition 2006. Special attention
should be paid to wild caught eel.

(***) Meat: In addition to meat and meat products originating from beef cattle, pigs, poultry and sheep, significant
number of samples should be taken from horsemeat, reindeer meat, goat meat, rabbit meat, venison and game.

(****) Milk: A large proportion of the milk samples should be taken from farm milk (mainly cow’s milk). It is also

appropriate to take samples of milk and milk products other than cow’s milk (goat milk, etc…).

(*****) Eggs: Particular attention should be paid to free-range hen eggs and eggs of ducks, geese and quails should also be

sampled.

(******) Other: In this category particular attention should be paid to:

— food supplements (particular those ones based on marine oil),

— food for infants and young children,

— food products originating from regions where due to e.g. climatic conditions resulting in floods, changes have
happened in the production conditions which could possibly affect the dioxin and dioxin-like PCB concen-
tration of the food products in the region.

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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

Sample code:

identification code of the sample.

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 precisely as possible.

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

Tissue: part of product analysed.

Expression of results: The results are to be expressed on the basis on which the maximum levels have been
established. 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.

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.

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

Area: insofar 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., e.g. Brussels — urban area, Mediterranean — open sea.

It is of particular importance to clearly indicate the area in case the sample has been collected from food produced
in regions which have been flooded.

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

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

2. General information on the method of analysis used

Method of analysis: refer to the method used.

Accreditation status: specify if the analytical method is accredited or not.

Uncertainty:
analytical method.

the decision limit or the percentage of the expanded measurement uncertainty embodied in the

Lipid extraction method: specify the lipid extraction method used to determine the fat content of the sample.

3. Analytical results

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

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

LOQ: Limit of quantification in pg/g (for dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs) or μg/kg — ng/g (for non-dioxin-
like PCBs)

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-6 and dioxin-like PCBs the number of the PCB congener needs
to be added to the form, e.g. 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. General remarks to the table
— R e p o r t i n g o f

t h e r e c o v e r y r a t e

— The reporting of the recovery rate is optional if the recovery rate for the individual congeners falls within
the range of 60-120 %. In case the recovery rate for some individual congeners falls outside that range, the
reporting of the recovery rate is obligatory.

— R e p o r t i n g o f

t h e L O Q

— The reporting of the LOQ is not required but in the column of results, the non-quantified congeners have

to be reported as < LOQ (effective figure).

— R e p o r t i n g o f

t h e T E Q v a l u e f o r i n d i v i d u a l c o n g e n e r s

— The column for TEQ values for the individual congeners is optional.

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