2007, Volume XI, Issue 1REGULATORY NEWSOn August 17, 2006, the European Commission (EC) issued a recommendation concerning the presence of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 and HT-2, and fumonisins in products intended for animal feed. Citing the conclusion of several EFSA opinions, the document noted that although these mycotoxins have toxic effects in several animal species, DON, ZEA, and fumonisins are not transferred from feed into food of animal origin in significant amounts and that OTA passed from animal feed into human food constitutes only aminor portion of consumers’ total dietary intake. The Commission also urged continued evaluation of the risks of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in animal feed. An accurate risk assessment of these toxins will require more extensive occurrence data, as well as increased research into the factors that foster their growth in oats and other cereals andcerealproducts.More sensitive analytical methods are also urgently needed. Guidance levels recommended by the Commission in cereals and cereal products included 0.25 ppm for OTA, 8 ppm for DON(except for maize by-products, 12 ppm), 2 ppm for ZEA (except for maize by-products, 3 ppm), and 60 ppm for fumonisins B1 and B2 in maize and maize products. A complete listing of the guidance levels is available in the Official Journal of the European Union L 229/7 of August 23, 2006. |