THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 sets maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.
(2)
The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (‘Contam’) of the European Food Safety Authority (‘EFSA’) adopted an opinion on ergot alkaloids in food and feed. The Contam Panel established a group acute reference dose of 1 μg/kg body weight (‘b.w.’) and a group tolerable daily intake of 0,6 μg/kg b.w.
(3)
The presence of ergot alkaloids in cereal grains is to a certain extent related to the presence of ergot sclerotia in cereal grains. This relationship is not absolute, as ergot alkaloids can also be present in the dust from ergot sclerotia adsorbed to the cereal grains. It is therefore important to set maximum levels for ergot sclerotia as a first step while gathering further data on the presence of ergot alkaloids in cereals and cereal products. However it is acknowledged that compliance with the maximum level for ergot sclerotia does not necessarily guarantee the safety of food as regards the presence of ergot alkaloids. Therefore, competent authorities may take appropriate measures, in accordance with Article 14(8) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council, to impose restrictions on the placing of food on the market or to require withdrawal of such food from the market, where the food is found unsafe because of the level of ergot alkaloids, despite its compliance with the maximum level on ergot sclerotia.
(4)
It is necessary to specify at which stage of marketing the maximum levels for ergot sclerotia should apply as cleaning and sorting operations can reduce the presence of ergot sclerotia. It is appropriate to apply the maximum levels for ergot sclerotia on cereal grains at the same stages of marketing as those for other mycotoxins.
(5)
Experience with the application of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 indicates that it is appropriate to clarify the term ‘first-stage processing’ in particular as regards integrated production and processing systems and as regards scouring.
(6)
It is important to gather data on the presence of ergot alkaloids in cereals and cereal products in order to establish the relationship between the presence of ergot alkaloids and the presence of ergot sclerotia. The findings on ergot alkaloids should be reported by 30 September 2016 in order to allow setting appropriate and achievable maximum levels of ergot alkaloids, providing a high level of human health protection.
(7)
Although it is important to continue to apply prevention measures to avoid and reduce ochratoxin A contamination, it is not necessary to report each year on the findings, the outcome of the investigations and the progress in application of the prevention measures. It is appropriate to update the provisions on monitoring and reporting as provided for in Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006.
(8)
Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(9)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: