The legal basis of the system is Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (O.J. No L 31 of 1 February 2002).
The purpose of the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) is to provide the control authorities with an effective tool for exchange of information on measures taken to ensure food safety.
To assist the members of the network, information is classified under two different headings:
• ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Alert notifications are sent when the food or feed presenting the risk is on the market and when immediate action is required. Alerts are triggered y the Member State that detects the problem and has initiated the relevant measures, such as withdrawal/recall. The notification aims at giving all the members of the network the information to verify whether the concerned product is on their market, so that they also can take the necessary measures.
Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an alert notification have been withdrawn or are in the process of being withdrawn from the market. The Member States have their own mechanisms to carry out such actions, including the provision of detailed information through the media if necessary.
• INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Information notifications concern a food or feed for which a risk has been identified, but for which the other members of the network do not have to take immediate action, because the product has not reached their market. These notifications mostly concern food and feed consignments that have been tested and rejected at the external borders of the EU (and the EEA1).
Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an information notification have not reached the market or that all necessary measures have already been taken.
The Commission publishes a weekly overview of alert and information notifications. As it is necessary to strike the balance between openness and the protection of commercial information, the trade names and the identity of individual companies are not published. This is not detrimental to consumer protection, as a RASFF notification implies that measures have been or are in the process of being taken.
The public must be aware that the Commission is not in a position to release more information other than that published here. However, in exceptional circumstances where the protection of human health requires greater transparency, the Commission takes the appropriate action through its usual communication channels.
The Commission informs the authorities of third countries of notifications concerning products manufactured in, distributed to or dispatched from these countries. However, the fact that a country is mentioned as the origin of a product does not necessarily imply that the identified hazard(s) originated in the country concerned.
The notifications reported in the weekly overviews published on the European Commission's web site are so-called "original notifications", representing a new case reported on a health risk detected in one or more consignments of a food or feed. On these cases, control authorities are exchanging additional information on measures taken and outcome of investigations. This information does not appear in the publicly accessible weekly overviews.
Newly added columns are the "type of control" and "status" columns.
The type of control column indicates what type of control lay at the basis of the notification:
• border control – import rejected: controls at the border posts of the outer EU (and EEA.) borders when the consignment was not accepted for import (“import rejected”);
• border control – screening sample: notification initiated through a sample taken at a border post for analysis but the consignment was meanwhile released to the market (“screening sample”);
• market control: official control on the EU (and EEA) internal market;
• company own-check: notification initiated through a company notifying the outcome of an owncheck to the competent authority;
• consumer complaint: notification initiated through a consumer lodging a complaint with the competent authority; notifications initiated through reported food poisoning outbreaks are classified under this category.
The status column is a combination of two values, "distribution status" and "action taken".
The distribution status indicates knowledge existing at the time of notification about the possible distribution of the product on the market. The concept "market" is to be interpreted in a geographical way: "the internal Community market" i.e. this does not necessarily mean that the product is already on the shelves available to consumers, as often it is not.
The action taken represents the action already taken by the notifying country at the time of notification. If "no action taken" is given for an alert notification, this normally indicates that the product is not on the market of the notifying country (therefore: no action taken by the notifying country) but it may be on the market of other member countries.
Another addition to the table is the insertion between brackets of the outcome of the analysis to the "reason for notifying" column, whenever that information is available. This information allows evaluating the seriousness of the notified finding.
Week 2007/16
TABLE 1: ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.
|
DATE: |
NOTIFIED BY: |
REF.: |
REASON FOR NOTIFYING: |
TYPE OF CONTROL: |
STATUS |
|
16/04/2007 |
the Slovak Republic |
2007.0270 |
Salmonella Derby (presence /25g) in spicy salami from Italy |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal from sale |
|
17/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.0271 |
Salmonella spp (presence /25g) in live clams (Venus gallina) from Italy |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / recall from recipients |
|
17/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.0272 |
mercury (1.30 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen sliced swordfish (Xiphia gladius) from Spain |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) |
|
17/04/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.0273 |
undeclared milk ingredient and undeclared soya in jelly mini eggs from Germany |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / recall from recipients |
|
17/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.0274 |
mercury (2.18 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen swordfish slices and loins (Xiphia gladius) from Spain |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / product detained |
|
17/04/2007 |
Slovenia |
2007.0275 |
abnormal smell of mashed dates without stones from Egypt |
border control - screening sample |
distribution on the market (possible) / destination of the product identified |
|
18/04/2007 |
the Czech Republic |
2007.0276 |
unauthorised substance piperidenafil (±10 mg/capsule) in food supplement from Sweden |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal from sale |
|
18/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.0277 |
parasitic infestation with Anisakis of fresh tub gurnard (Trigla lucerna) fillets from France |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / product (to be) destroyed |
|
19/04/2007 |
the Czech Republic |
2007.0278 |
unauthorised genetically modified (LL 601 RICE) long grain rice from Germany, raw material from the United States via the Netherlands |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal from sale |
|
19/04/2007 |
the Czech Republic |
2007.0279 |
too high content of of sweetener E 950 - acesulfame k (466 mg/kg - ppm) and of the sum of E 210 - benzoic acid and E 200 - sorbic acid(Sa + Ba = 1231 mg/kg -ppm) in mild ketchup from Poland |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal from sale |
|
19/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.0280 |
Bacillus licheniformis in tube feeding (multifibre pack) from the Netherlands |
company's own check |
distribution on the market (possible) / withdrawal from sale |
|
20/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.0281 |
carbon monoxide treatment of vacuum packed slices of swordfish (Xiphia gladius) from Spain |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / product detained |
|
20/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.0282 |
ochratoxin A (150 μg/kg -ppb) in sweet paprika powder from Peru |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / recall from recipients |
|
20/04/2007 |
Finland |
2007.0283 |
undeclared sulphite (30 mg/kg - ppm) in mead from Sweden |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) / public recall |
|
20/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.0284 |
fumonisins (B1: 1590; 750 / B2: 501; 250 μg/kg - ppb) in organic corn flour from Italy via France |
market control |
distribution on the market (possible) |
TABLE 2: INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS DATE: REF.: NOTIFI- CATION: OF WEEK SUBJECT CORRIGENDUM: 17/04/2007 inf01 2007.AXV 15 absence of health certificate(s) for satay sauce from China (Hong Kong) The subject of the notification is corrected to "absence of health certificate(s) for satay sauce from China (Hong Kong)". 17/04/2007 inf01 2007.AXW 15 absence of health certificate(s) for peanut oil from China (Hong Kong) The subject of the notification is corrected to: "absence of health certificate(s) for peanut oil from China (Hong Kong)".
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.
|
DATE: |
NOTIFIED BY: |
REF.: |
REASON FOR NOTIFYING: |
TYPE OF CONTROL: |
STATUS |
|
16/04/2007 |
Slovenia |
2007.AYE |
phorate (0.081 mg/kg - ppm) in pears from China via the Netherlands |
market control |
product already consumed / reinforced checking |
|
16/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AYF |
unsuitable means of transport for bulk (residues from previous cargoes) unrefined sunflower seed oil from Ukraine |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AYG |
unsuitable means of transport for bulk (residues from previous cargoes) crude sunflower seed oil from Ukraine |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/04/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.AYH |
aflatoxins (B1 = 8.3; Tot. = 10.5 μg/kg - ppb) in peanuts from India |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product detained |
|
16/04/2007 |
Greece |
2007.AYI |
unauthorised use of colour E 127 - erythrosine (29 mg/kg - ppm) in sugar coated sauf from India |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
16/04/2007 |
the Slovak Republic |
2007.AYJ |
aflatoxins (B1 = 2.23; Tot. = 18.76 μg/kg - ppb) in roasted and salted peanut kernels without shell from the Slovak Republic, raw material from China, via the Netherlands |
market control |
distribution restricted to notifying country / withdrawal from sale |
|
16/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AYK |
lead (0.15 mg/kg - ppm) in fresh onions from Ukraine |
border control -import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
17/04/2007 |
Spain |
2007.AYL |
Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in frozen mussels from Vietnam |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
17/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AYM |
unauthorised substance leucomalachite green (9.30 μg/kg - ppb) in frozen gutted eel (Anguilla japonica) from China |
border control - screening sample |
distribution restricted to notifying country / no stock left |
|
17/04/2007 |
Estonia |
2007.AYN |
missing identification code on individual packaging of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
17/04/2007 |
Belgium |
2007.AYO |
aflatoxins (B1 = 10.11; Tot. = 11.98 μg/kg -ppb) in roasted chopped hazelnuts from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
17/04/2007 |
Lithuania |
2007.AYP |
unauthorised transit of frozen beef from Brazil |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
17/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AYQ |
peanuts in shell from China infested with moulds and insects |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
17/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.AYR |
improper health certificate(s) for live snails from Tunisia |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
18/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.AYS |
aflatoxins (B1 = 9.6; Tot. = 16.2 μg/kg - ppb) in almonds from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
18/04/2007 |
Greece |
2007.AYT |
unauthorised genetically modified (rice BT63) rice protein concentrate from China |
border control - screening sample |
distribution restricted to notifying country / product (to be) returned to dispatcher |
|
18/04/2007 |
Spain |
2007.AYU |
unauthorised use of colour E 171 - titanium dioxide (1.0; 0.44 mg/kg - ppm) in roasted chickpeas from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
18/04/2007 |
Norway |
2007.AYV |
E 250 - sodium nitrite (6.7; 6.2 mg/kg - ppm) unauthorised in frozen smoked cod (Gadus macrocephalus) from China |
border control - screening sample |
distribution restricted to notifying country / withdrawal from sale |
|
18/04/2007 |
Cyprus |
2007.AYW |
unauthorised genetically modified (LL Rice 601) complete feed for dogs from the United States |
market control |
distribution restricted to notifying country / product detained |
|
18/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AYX |
unsuitable means of transport for bulk (residues from previous cargoes) crude sunflower seed oil from Ukraine |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
18/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AYY |
aflatoxins (B1 = 1.61; Tot. = 8.76 μg/kg - ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
18/04/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.AYZ |
captan (2 mg/kg - ppm) in grapes from Chile |
market control |
product already consumed |
|
18/04/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.AZA |
carbofuran (0.03 mg/kg - ppm) in grapes from Chile |
market control |
product already consumed |
|
19/04/2007 |
Germany |
2007.AZB |
histamine (220; 132; 151; 229; 210 mg/kg -ppm) in canned tuna in oil from Indonesia |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
Germany |
2007.AZC |
histamine (220; 132; 151; 229; 210 mg/kg -ppm) in canned tuna in oil from Indonesia |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
Germany |
2007.AZD |
aflatoxins (B1 = 0.9; Tot. = 0.9 / B1 = ND; Tot. = ND / B1 = 204.7; Tot. = 215.9 μg/kg - ppb) in raw pistachio nuts with shell from Iran |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
Greece |
2007.AZE |
unauthorised colour Sudan 1 (1.9 mg/kg - ppm) in adjika sauce (slabozhgutchaya) from the Russian Federation |
market control |
distribution restricted to notifying country / product seized |
|
19/04/2007 |
Norway |
2007.AZF |
E 250 - sodium nitrite (6.4 mg/kg - ppm) unauthorised in frozen light salted cod.(Gadus macrocephalus) from China |
border control - screening sample |
distribution restricted to notifying country / prohibition to trade - sales ban |
|
19/04/2007 |
Poland |
2007.AZG |
bad state of preservation (rotting) and bad hygienic state (dirt) of blanched split groundnut kernels from Argentina infested with moulds |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
Germany |
2007.AZH |
unauthorised substance nitrofuran (metabolite) -furazolidone (AOZ) (3.6 μg/kg - ppb) in black tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) from India |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
Spain |
2007.AZI |
too high content of sulphite (675.64; 612.68; 529.45 μg/kg - ppb) in chilled shrimps from Morocco |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
the United Kingdom |
2007.AZJ |
too high content of colour E 122 - azorubine and of colour E 124 - Ponceau 4R / cochineal red A in candy floss from France |
market control |
product already consumed / no action taken |
|
19/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.AZK |
aflatoxins (B1 = 38.0; Tot. = 42.9 μg/kg - ppb) in shelled almonds from the United States via the United Kingdom |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.AZL |
aflatoxins (B1 = 4.2 μg/kg - ppb) in groundnuts from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / physical treatment - blanching |
|
19/04/2007 |
Greece |
2007.AZM |
mercury (0.858 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen headless grouper (Ephinephelus lanceolatus) from Yemen |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
19/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.AZN |
aflatoxins (B1 = 19.7; Tot. = 22.3 μg/kg - ppb) in groundnuts from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / physical treatment - blanching |
|
20/04/2007 |
Germany |
2007.AZO |
ochratoxin A (39 μg/kg - ppb) in instant coffee from the Czech Republic via Austria |
market control |
no stock left / withdrawal from sale |
|
20/04/2007 |
Spain |
2007.AZP |
too high content of sulphite (1547 mg/kg - ppm) in frozen red shrimps (Aristeneus antennatus) from Algeria |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
20/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.AZQ |
aflatoxins (B1 < 0.1; Tot. < 0.1 / B1 < 0.1; Tot. < 0.1 / B1 = 7.2; Tot. = 7.6 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachio nuts from Iran |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
20/04/2007 |
Denmark |
2007.AZR |
aflatoxins (B1 = 94 μg/kg - ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina via the United States |
company's own check |
no distribution / product detained |
|
20/04/2007 |
Germany |
2007.AZS |
unauthorised substance isoprocarb (00.47 mg/kg - ppm) in starfruit from Malaysia via the Netherlands |
market control |
product already consumed / no action taken |
|
20/04/2007 |
Greece |
2007.AZT |
aflatoxins (B1 = 9.5; Tot. = 10.8 / B1 = 0.9; Tot. = 0.9 / B1 < 0.14; Tot. < 0.62 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachio nuts from the United States |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
20/04/2007 |
Finland |
2007.AZU |
migration of volatile organic constituents (1.3 <--> 1.8 %) from silicon bake ware from China |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
20/04/2007 |
Norway |
2007.AZV |
oxamyl (0.10 mg/kg - ppm) in yellow peppers from Spain |
market control |
product already consumed |
|
20/04/2007 |
Italy |
2007.AZW |
aflatoxins (B1 = 10.5; Tot. = 29.5 / B1 < 0.1; Tot. < 0.1 / B1 < 0.1; Tot. < 0.1 μg/kg - ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
20/04/2007 |
France |
2007.AZX |
aflatoxins (B1 = 21; Tot. = 22 μg/kg - ppb) in pistachio nuts from Iran |
border control - import rejected |
no distribution / product (to be) re-dispatched |
|
20/04/2007 |
the Netherlands |
2007.AZY |
omethoate (0.31 mg/kg - ppm) and dimethoate (1.3 mg/kg - ppm) in oak leaf lettuce from France |
market control |
product already consumed |
|
20/04/2007 |
Ireland |
2007.AZZ |
methomyl (0.43 mg/kg - ppm) in pears from South Africa |
market control |
product already consumed |
