Harmonising food safety standards

Subject: Harmonising food safety standards

Recently, the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) issued a health alert in relation to the detection of harmful substances in a batch of watermelons from Morocco during border checks. These watermelons were found to contain a high level of methomyl1, an unauthorised pesticide, with the residues of this insecticide measuring at levels well above the limits permitted in the European market. Specifically, a level of 0.38+/-0.19 mg/kg-ppm2 was detected, while the established maximum residue limit (MRL) is 0.015 mg/kg-ppm.

I would therefore like to ask:

1. What measures does the Commission plan to take to guarantee the safety of imported food and to prevent the presence of unauthorised substances in the future?

2. What measures is the Commission taking to ensure consistency and uniform compliance with food safety standards both for European products and for products imported from countries outside the European Union?

Submitted:2.8.2023

1 https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.037.089

2 https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/622572

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

(15 September 2023)

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (3), Member States have the primary responsibility to monitor and verify that the relevant requirements of EU food laws are fulfilled at all stages of production, including at the stage of import.

Member States must carry out official controls and enforcement activities according to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (4) ensuring that products that are not in compliance with the respective legislation are removed from the market.

This includes compliance with Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) of pesticides set in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (5), which also provides for concrete control measures by means of an EU-coordinated multiannual control programme and annual targeted, risk-based, national control programmes.

Where food of non-animal origin from third countries poses a contamination risk, the Commission may take measures under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 (6) which may include checks at border control posts at harmonised frequencies and certification by the exporting country.

In the context of regular reviews of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, taking into account new information related to risks and instances of non-compliance, the Commission adjusts the control measures on food and feed of non-animal origin introduced into the EU from certain third countries.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.037.089

2 ∙ ⸱ https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/622572

3 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32002R0178 , See in particular Articles 17(1), 19 and 20.

4 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32017R0625

5 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32005R0396

6 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/1793/oj