A global food standards-setting body has advanced work on various issues, including lead levels, Ciguatera, and tropane alkaloids.
The latest Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food session was held in Panama City in April.
New maximum levels (MLs) were agreed for lead in various spices, including dried aril, dried seeds
Continue Reading Codex meeting covers heavy metal levels and Ciguatera
Proposed changes to the levels of checks on a range of products, including sesame seeds from India and Turkey for Salmonella, have been put forward by UK food agencies.
The plans cover official controls and special conditions on imported high-risk food and feed that is not of animal origin. The
Continue Reading FSA and FSS reveal planned changes to checks on food imports
The European Commission has assessed the progress of food safety control systems in several countries aiming to become EU member states.
The reports cover various sectors and developments in Kosovo, Montenegro, Georgia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia Herzegovina in the past year.
An assessment found that Bosnia and Herzegovina made no
Continue Reading EU assesses food safety progress in potential member countries
The European Commission’s health and safety unit has published findings from two assessments looking at controls on aflatoxins in nuts in Egypt and India.
A DG Sante audit in Egypt in September 2022 was due to continuing Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications for aflatoxins in peanuts.
Continue Reading EU audits investigate Egypt and India’s aflatoxin problem
Food safety authorities covering England, Wales and Scotland have opened a comment period on the rates of checks for selected food and feed of non-animal origin from certain countries.
Proposed amendments would apply a temporary change to official controls or special conditions on the entry into Great Britain of the
Continue Reading UK plans stricter inspections of enoki mushrooms and tahini; seeks public comment
The European Commission has stepped in to try to stop a multi-year, multi-country Salmonella outbreak associated with sesame-based products. Several patients from the United States have been confirmed.
An increased level of official controls will be applied to tahini and halva entering Europe from Syria because of the risk of
Continue Reading EU ups controls in an attempt to halt Salmonella outbreak
The number of food and beverage recalls in Europe went up in the first few months of 2023, according to an analysis.
Data comes from Sedgwick brand protection’s latest European product recall report and is based on information from the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the
Continue Reading EU food and beverage recalls rise in early 2023
The European Commission has relaxed checks on melons from Honduras but added controls for vanilla extract from the United States.
Changes were made as part of updated legislation on the rate of official controls and emergency measures for food of non-animal origin imported into Europe. Rules are modified every six
Continue Reading EU eases melon rules but tightens checks on vanilla extract from U.S.
Voluntary approaches to tackle certain mycotoxins in dried figs and pistachios in Turkiye don’t seem to be working, according to the European Commission’s health and safety agency.
A remote DG Sante audit, in May and June 2022, included authorities, laboratories, producers, and exporters.
The assessment followed regular Rapid Alert System
Continue Reading EU audit questions Turkish approach to control mycotoxins
More than a dozen comments were received on plans in the United Kingdom to change the rate of checks on specific imported products.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) comment period earlier this year covered amending official controls and special conditions on some food and feed
Continue Reading U.S. groups among respondents to UK import inspection plans