Food hazards on the European Union market: The data analysis of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.

Marcin Pigłowski

doi:10.1002/fsn3.1448

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine similarities in notifications on main hazards within food reported in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) in 1979–2017. The main problems were mycotoxins in nuts, pathogenic microorganisms in poultry meat and fish, pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, and heavy metals in fish. The increase in the number of notifications has been observed since 2002/2003. Products were notified mainly by Italy, Germany, and United Kingdom and originated from Asian and European Union countries. The notification basis was border control and official control, and the notification type was border rejections, information, and alerts. Notified products were not distributed and not placed on the market, distribution status could be also not specified, or distribution was possible, also to other countries. The risk decision on hazard was usually not made. Products were redispatched, withdrawn from the market, and destroyed, or import was not authorized. Remarks, which can be used to improve the RASFF database, were also presented. It was further pointed out that European law should significantly reduce the use of pesticides, drugs, and food additives, and European agriculture should be reoriented from an intensive farming to a more sustainable and ecological one.

Highlights

According to FTSE Russell, 15 out of 28 European Union (EU) countries have developed markets
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is a good example of this collaboration, enabling the exchange of information on dangerous food products that come from EU producers as well as imported products, which may contribute to the improvement of food quality
The aim of the study was to examine similarities in the RASFF notifications in 1979–2017 on main hazard categories within food taking into account: product category, year, notifying country, origin country, notification basis, notification type, distribution status, risk decision, and action taken, based on the data from the RASFF database

Summary

Introduction

Among various warning systems for food, the best known are the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) managed by the World Health Organization (WHO; Cheftel, 2011), the Reportable Food Registry (RFR) in the United States (Zach, Doyle, Bier, & Czuprynski, 2012), the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN) in Canada (Van Asselt, Meuwissen, Van Asseldonk, Teeuw, & Van Der Fels-Klerx, 2010; Van Der Spiegel, Van Der FelsKlerx, & Marvin, 2012), and the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) in the European Union (EU; Cheftel, 2011; Van Asselt et al, 2010; Van Der Spiegel et al, 2012; Zach et al, 2012). 16/2011 (laying down implementing measures for the RASFF; Commission, 2011) This system enables exchange of information on food safety risks between contact points of its members, that is, European Union countries national food safety authorities; European Commission; the European Food Safety Authority (EFTA); the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority (ESA); and Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Food Sci Nutr. All EU countries and Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein form a common market with the free movement of people, capital, goods, and services (the European Economic Area, i.e., the EEA), inhabited by over half a billion people. Switzerland is not an EEA country, but is a member of the RASFF (European Commission, 2018a). To ensure food safety on such a large and important market, trust and close cooperation between EU institutions and authorities of individual member country are necessary. The RASFF is a good example of this collaboration, enabling the exchange of information on dangerous food products that come from EU producers as well as imported products, which may contribute to the improvement of food quality

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