June 2002 Volume VI, No. 1NEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES Four mycotoxin-related projects have been launched through the European Commission’s Key Action 1 on Health, Food, and Nutrition. The four projects concern ochratoxin A, Fusarium toxins, toxigenic fungi, and Alternaria toxins. Three of the four projects have been grouped together in a Mycotoxin Cluster. These three projects all relate to the development and validation of mycotoxin prevention strategies and the implementation of the HACCP approach for ochratoxin A and Fusarium toxins. All projects are expected to spawn new analytical processes including screening detection tests and confirmatory analyses. Ultimately, grouping these mycotoxin projects together in a cluster will ensure an exchange of information as well as a move toward the standardization of generated information. Information generated from all four projects will contribute to the European Community’s food law. The projects included in the Mycotoxin Cluster are:
The fourth related project, not included in the Mycotoxin Cluster, focuses on the development of strategies for safe and high quality organically grown food supply by anticipating Alternaria mycotoxin risk. (http://www.dlo.nl/wageningenseedcentre/safe_organic_vegetables.htm) Those involved with the Mycotoxin Cluster recently held a workshop in conjunction with the inaugural ceremonies for the Institute of Sciences of Food Protection (ISPA) in February. ISPA is involved in five of the ten programs ultimately launched by the European Commission within the Key Action 1 under Programme 1 of the 5th Framework Programme. |