EU proposal for maximum perchlorate concentrations in foods is inadequate
| Main Author: | German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment |
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| Format: | Report |
| Terbitan: |
, 2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/582593 |
Daftar Isi:
- The BfR has been provided with non-representative monitoring data based on four independent data sources in which perchlorate residues were found in various foods from more than 15 different countries of origin. Some samples of citrus fruit, exotic fruit [...] contained perchlorate concentrations that can have undesirable effects on health if large portions are consumed on a one-time basis (BfR Opinion no. 022/2013). The EU Commission has commissioned the EFSA to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment. As a provisional enforcement approach until this assessment is completed, the EU Commission has initially proposed a general reference value of 0.5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of food for perchlorate concentrations in fruit and vegetables. The proposal was adapted following discussions with the member states, and the following provisional enforcement approach was adopted on 16 July 2013: the reference value is 0.2 mg per kg for citrus fruit, pome fruit, root and tuber vegetables, table grapes, spinach, melons and water melons, 1.0 mg per kg for leaf vegetables (apart from spinach), fresh herbs and celery grown in glasshouses/under cover, and 0.5 mg per kg for all other fruit and vegetable products. The BfR welcomes the partial lowering of reference values to 0.2 mg per kg. However, the BfR does not consider the adopted values to be suitable to adequately protect consumers against potential health risks due to the consumption of large portions of fruit and vegetable products with perchlorate residues. The BfR believes that only a concentration of 0.05 mg per kg would be acceptable for all fruit and vegetable products based on the assessment methodology used for pesticides. As it is still not ultimately clear how perchlorate finds its way into foods, it is also unclear whether the presence of perchlorate in foods should be considered a "contaminant" or a "residue". [...]
- DE; en; efsa-focal-point@bfr.bund.de