Millennium EditionREGULATORY NEWS In ITALY, the Ministry of Health (June 10, 1999) recommended the maximum permitted levels for the following mycotoxins (µg/kg): Aflatoxin B1 in spices (10) and infusional herbs (5); Total aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) in baby food (0.1), spices (20) and infusional herbs (10); Aflatoxin M1 in baby food (0.01); Ochratoxin A in baby food (0.5), green coffee (8), roasted and soluble coffee (4), cocoa and derived products (0.5), pork meat and derived products (1), cereals and cereal products (3) and beer (0.2); Patulin in fruit juices (50); Zearalenone in baby food (20) and cereals and cereal products (100). In AUSTRIA guidelines have been recommended by the working group of the Austrian Institutes for Agriculture (ALVA) in May 1999 for maximum acceptable levels (µg/kg) of deoxynivalenol in feed: for pigs (500), beef cattle (1000), laying hens and breeding poultry (1000), and poultry for meat production (1500). In addition, a maximum acceptable level of 50 µg/kg has been recommended for zearalenone in feed for breeding sows. The following guidelines for bread wheat, durum wheat and rye for human consumption, which had been issued by the Austrian Ministry of Health in May 1993, are still in force: Ochratoxin A (5 µg/kg); Zearalenone (60); Deoxynivalenol (500 in wheat and rye, 750 in durum wheat). The above guidelines add to the EU regulation for aflatoxins in a variety of foods already in force also in these Countries from January 1st, 1999. |