EU legislation on cereal safety: An update with a focus on mycotoxins

Food Control

Volumn 37, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 315-325

  Cheli, Federica ^a   Battaglia, Debora ^a   Gallo, Rossella ^a   Dell'Orto, Vittorio ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MILAN   (Italy)

Author keywords

Cereal quality; Cereal safety; EU legislation; Official controls; Sampling and analysis

Indexed keywords

EID: 84885907047     PISSN: 09567135     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.09.059     Document Type: Review

References (57)

1. Arvanitoyannis I.S., Choreftaki S., Tserkezou P. An update of EU legislation (Directives and Regulations) on food-related issues (Safety, Hygiene, Packaging, Technology, GMOs, Additives, Radiation, Labelling): presentation and comments. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2005, 40:1021-1112.
2. Berthiller F., Crews C., Dall'Asta C., De Saeger S., Haesaert G., Karlovsky P., et al. Masked mycotoxins: a review. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 2013, 57:165-186.
3. Binder E.M., Tan L.M., Chin L.J., Handl J., Richard J. Worldwide occurrence of mycotoxins in commodities, feeds and feed ingredients. Animal Feed Science and Technology 2007, 137:265-282.
4. Brera C., Catalano C., De Santis B., Debegnach F., De Giacomo M., Pannunzi E., et al. Effects of industrial processing on the distribution of Aflatoxins and zearalenone in corn-milling fractions. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2006, 54(14):5014-5019.
5. Bullerman L.B., Bianchini A. Stability of mycotoxins during food processing. International Journal of Food Microbiology 2007, 119(1-2):140-146.
6. Cardona C.A., Sànchez O.J. Fuel ethanol production: process design trends and integration opportunities. Bioresource Technology 2007, 98:2415-2457.
7. Cassman K.G., Liska A.J. Food and fuel for all: realistic or foolish?. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining 2007, 1:18-23.
8. Castells M., Marin S., Sanchis V., Ramos A.J. Distribution of fumonisins and aflatoxins in corn fractions during industrial corn flakes processing. International Journal of Food Microbiology 2008, 123(1-2):81-87.
9. Cheli F., Campagnoli A., Pinotti L., Fusi E., Dell'Orto V. Review article - sampling feed for mycotoxins: acquiring knowledge from food. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2009, 8(1):5-22.
10. Cheli F., Campagnoli A., Ventura V., Brera C., Berdini C., Palmaccio E., et al. Effect of industrial processing on the distribution of deoxynivalenol, cadmium and lead in wheat milling fractions. LWT - Food Science and Technology 2010, 43(7):1050-1057.
11. Cheli F., Pinotti L., Rossi L., Dell'Orto V. Effect of milling procedures on mycotoxin distribution in wheat fractions: a review. LWT - Food Science and Technology 2013, 54:307-314.
12. COCERAL, Balance sheet for cereals 2012/13-2011/12. Available at Accessed 13.05.13. http://www.coceral.com/web/march%202013/1011306087/list1187970368/f1.html.
13. Codex Alimentarius Codex standard for durum wheat semolina and durum wheat flour 178-1991 (Rev. 1-1995) 1991, FAO/WHO, Rome.
14. D'Mello J.P.F., Placinta C.M., Macdonald A.M.C. Fusarium mycotoxins: a review of global implications for animal health, welfare and productivity. Animal Feed Science and Technology 1999, 80(3-4):183-205.
15. van Egmond H.P., Schothorst R.C., Jonker M.A. Regulations relating to mycotoxins in food. Perspectives in a global and European context. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2007, 389:147-157. Review.
16. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No 194/97 of 31 January 1997 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Official Journal of the European Communities 1997, L 31:48-50. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=218856:cs%26lang=en%26list=218856:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
17. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Official Journal of the European Communities 2001, L 77:1-13. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=258830:cs%26lang=en%26list=258830:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
18. European Commission Commission Directive 2002/63/EC of 11 July 2002 establishing community methods of sampling for the official control of pesticide residues in and on products of plant and animal origin and repealing Directive 79/700/EEC. Official Journal of the European Communities 2002, L 187:30-43. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=274399:cs%26lang=en%26list=274399:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
19. European Commission Commission Decision 2004/478/EC of 29 April 2004 concerning the adoption of a general plan for food/feed crisis management. Official Journal of the European Union 2004, L 160:98-111. Consolidated version at, Access date: 13.05.2013. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=386992:cs%26lang=en%26list=386992:cs,%20386991:cs,%20343020:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=3%26pgs=10%26hwords=
20. European Commission Commission Recommendation 2004/787/EC of 4 October 2004 on technical guidance for sampling and detection of genetically modified organisms and material produced from genetically modified organisms as or in products in the context of Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003. Official Journal of the European Communities 2004, L 348:18-26. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32004H0787:EN:%20NOT.
21. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No 2230/2004 of 23 December 2004 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 with regard to the network of organisations operating in the fields within the European Food Safety Authority's mission. Official Journal of the European Union 2004, L 379:64-67. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=392779:cs%26lang=en%26list=392779:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=
22. European Commission Commission Recommendation No 2006/576 of 17 August 2006 on the presence of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 and fumonisins in products intended for animal feeding. Official Journal of the European Union 2006, L 229:7-9. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:%20L:2006:229:0007:0009:EN:%20PDF.
23. European Commission Commission Recommendation No 2006/583 of 17 August 2006 on the prevention and reduction of Fusarium toxins in cereals and cereal products. Official Journal of the European Union 2006, L 234:35-40. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=432176:cs&lang=it&list=432176:cs,431952:cs,&pos=1&page=1&nbl=2&pgs=10&hwords=RACCOMANDAZIONE%20n.%202006/583/CE%20DELLA%20COMMISSIONE%7eDEL%2017%20AGOSTO%202006%7eSULLA%20PREVENZIONE%20E%20SULLA%20RIDUZIONE%20DELLE%20FUSARIUM%20-TOSSINE%20IN%20CEREALI%20E%20PRODOTTI%20DERIVATI%20(TESTO%20RILEVANTE%20AI%20FINI%20DEL%20SEE)%20(GU%20L%20234%20DEL%2029.8.2006)%7E&checktexte=checkbox&visu=%23texte.
24. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 of 23 February 2006 laying down the methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of the levels of mycotoxins in foodstuffs. Official Journal of the European Union 2006, L 70:12-34. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=423143:cs%26lang=it%26list=423143:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
25. European Commission Commission Regulation (EU) 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Official Journal of the European Union 2006, L 364:5-24. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do%3fval%3d437851:cs&lang%3dit&list%3d649955:cs,%20607137:cs,%20571538:cs,%20508843:cs,%20507694:cs,%20473581:cs,%20472642:cs,%20575533:cs,%20456294:cs,%20437851:cs,&pos%3d10&page%3d1&nbl%3d24&pgs%3d10&hwords%3dCONTAMINANTI%20NEI%20PRODOTTI%20ALIMENTARI%7e&checktexte%3dcheckbox&visu%3d%23texte.
26. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1882/2006 laying down methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of the levels of nitrates in certain foodstuffs. Official Journal of the European Union 2006, L 364:25-31. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=437852:cs%26lang=it%26list=627847:cs,%20437852:cs,%26pos=2%26page=1%26nbl=2%26pgs=10%26hwords=nitrati%7E%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
27. European Commission Commission Recommendation No 2007/331/EC of 3 May 2007 on the monitoring of acrylamide levels in food. Official Journal of the European Union 2007, L 123:33-40. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=448851:cs%26lang=it%26list=516908:cs,%20508894:cs,%20474681:cs,%20448851:cs,%20446545:cs,%20436035:cs,%20390303:cs,%20257826:cs,%20229749:cs,%26pos=4%26page=1%26nbl=9%26pgs=10%26hwords=MONITORAGGIO%7E%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
28. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 of 28 March 2007 laying down the methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of the levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, inorganic tin, 3-MCPD and benzo(a)pyrene in foodstuffs. Official Journal of the European Union 2007, L 88:29-38. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=446538:cs%26lang=en%26list=446538:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
29. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 of 24 July 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the increased level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin and amending Decision 2006/504/EC. Official Journal of the European Union 2009, L 194:11-21. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=498878:cs%26lang=it%26list=498878:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
30. European Commission Commission Regulation (EC) No 1152/2009 of 27 November 2009 imposing special conditions governing the import of certain foodstuffs from certain third countries due to contamination risk by aflatoxins and repealing Decision 2006/504/EC. Official Journal of the European Union 2009, L 313:40-49. Available at, Accessed 09.09.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=504892%3Acs%26lang=en%26list=730008%3Acs%2C608742%3Acs%2C534206%3Acs%2C504892%3Acs%2C%26pos=4%26page=1%26nbl=4%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
31. European Commission Commission Recommendation No 2010/307/EU of 2 June 2010 on the monitoring of acrylamide levels in food. Official Journal of the European Union 2010, L 137:4-10. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:%20L:2010:137:0004:0010:EN:%20PDF.
32. European Commission Commission Recommendation No 2011/516/EU of 23 August 2011 on the reduction of the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in feed and food. Official Journal of the European Union 2011, L 218:23-25. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=600897:cs%26lang=en%26list=600897:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
33. European Commission Commission Regulation (EU) No 619/2011 of 24 June 2011 laying down the methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of feed as regards presence of genetically modified material for which an authorisation procedure is pending or the authorisation of which has expired. Official Journal of the European Union 2011, L 166:9-15. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=575710:cs%26lang=en%26list=575710:cs,%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=619/2011%7E.
34. European Commission Commission Recommendation No 2012/154/EU of 15 March 2012 on the monitoring of the presence of ergot alkaloids in feed and food. Official Journal of the European Union 2012, L 77:20-21. Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:%20L:2012:077:0020:0021:EN:%20PDF.
35. European Commission Commission Recommendation No 2013/165/EU of 27 March 2013 on the presence of T-2 and HT-2 toxin in cereals and cereal products. Official Journal of the European Union 2013, L 91:12-15. Available at, Accessed 09.09.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=724583:cs%26lang=en%26list=734501:cs,%20724583:cs,%20705526:cs,%26pos=2%26page=1%26nbl=3%26pgs=10%26hwords=%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
36. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Cereal supply and demand brief. FAO cereal supply and demand situation 2011, (July 2011), Available from, Accessed 13.05.13. http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/wfs-home/csdb/en/.
37. Fink-Gremmels J. Mycotoxins: their implications for human and animal health. The Veterinary Quarterly 1999, 21(4):115-120.
38. Hussein H.S., Brasel J.M. Toxicity, metabolism, and impact of mycotoxins on human and animals. Toxicology 2001, 167(2):101-134.
39. Johansson A.S., Whitaker T.B., Hagler W.M., Giesbrecht F.G., Young J.H., Bowman D.T. Testing shelled corn for aflatoxin, Part I: estimation of variance, components. Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists International 2000, 83(5):1264-1269.
40. Jorgensen K. Occurrence of ochratoxin A in commodities and processed food: a review of EU occurrence data. Food Additives & Contaminants 2005, 22(S1):562-567.
41. Lin Y., Tanaka S. Ethanol fermentation from biomass resources: current state and prospects. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 2006, 69:627-642.
42. Luque R., Herrero-Davila L., Campelo J.M., Clark J.H., Hidalgo J.M., Luna D., et al. Biofuels: a technological perspective. Energy Environmental Science 2008, 1:542-564.
43. Monaci L., Palmisano F. Determination of ochratoxin A in foods: state-of-the-art and analytical challenges. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2004, 378(1):96-103.
44. Pimentel D., Marklein A., Toth M.A., Karpoff M.N., Paul G.S., McCormack R., et al. Food versus biofuels: environmental and economic costs. Human Ecology 2009, 37:1-12.
45. RASFF (European Commission Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) RASFF annual report 2011 2011, Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/rapidalert/docs/rasff_annual_report_2011_en.pdf.
46. Rodrigues I., Naehrer K. Athree-year survey on the worldwide occurrence of mycotoxins in feedstuffs and feed. Toxins 2012, 4:663-675.
47. Scudamore K.A. Fate of fusarium mycotoxins in the cereal industry: recent UK studies. World Mycotoxin Journal 2008, 1(3):315-323.
48. Siegel D., Babuscio T. Mycotoxin management in the European cereal trading sector. Food Control 2011, 22:1145-1153.
49. Tang Y., Lu L., Zhao W., Wang J. Rapid detection techniques for biological and chemical contamination in food: a review. International Journal of Food Engineering 2009, 5(5). article 2.
50. Taylor-Pickard J. Mycotoxin contamination of feed: current global status. Feed Tech 2009, 13(7). Available at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://www.allaboutfeed.net/background/mycotoxin-contamination-of-feedcurrent-global-status-11459.html.
51. The Council of the European Communities Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food. Official Journal of the European Communities 1993, L 37:1-3. Consolidated version at, sed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=294719:cs%26lang=it%26list=294719:cs,%20504337:cs,%20188435:cs,%20188272:cs,%26pos=1%26page=3%26nbl=24%26pgs=10%26hwords=CONTAMINANTI%20NEI%20PRODOTTI%20ALIMENTARI%7E%26checktexte=checkbox%26visu=
52. The European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed. Official Journal of the European Union 2002, L 140:10-22. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32002L0032:en:NOT.
53. The European Parliament and the Council Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. Official Journal of the European Union 2002, L31:1-24. Consolidate version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=272505:cs%26lang=en%26list=691695:cs,%20451947:cs,%20272882:cs,%20272505:cs,%26pos=4%26page=1%26nbl=4%26pgs=10%26hwords.
54. The European Parliament and the Council Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules. Official Journal of the European Union 2004, L 165:1-141. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=387352:cs%26lang=en%26list=461295:cs,%20453560:cs,%20392732:cs,%20387353:cs,%20387352:cs,%26pos=5%26page=1%26nbl=5%26pgs=10%26hwords.
55. The European Parliament and the Council Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC. Official Journal of the European Union 2005, L 70:1-16. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32005R0396:en:NOT.
56. The European Parliament and the Council Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. Official Journal of the European Union 2009, L 309:1-50. Consolidated version at, Accessed 13.05.13. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?val=504604%3Acs%26lang=en%26list=504604%3Acs%2C%26pos=1%26page=1%26nbl=1%26pgs=10%26hwords=
57. Wild C.P., Gong Y.Y. Mycotoxins and human disease: a largely ignored global health issue. Carcinogenesis 2010, 31(1):71-82.