The objectives of the audit were to assess if the systems in place to control aflatoxin contamination in peanuts intended for export to EU comply with or are at least equivalent to EU legislation, to ensure that the specified limits for contaminants laid down in EU legislation are respected. This audit was planned against the background of continuing and regular Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications recorded in recent years.
The report concluded that, overall, there are very limited official controls or legal requirements applicable to control aflatoxin contamination specifically in peanuts intended for export to the EU. Official sampling for aflatoxins of peanuts intended for export to the EU is not always performed in a manner equivalent to the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 401/2006. There is scope to further develop and improve the application of good practices across the industry, which could help to reduce the levels of any aflatoxin contamination in peanuts exported to the EU.
Based on the conclusions, the European Commission recommends the following:
The report concluded that, overall, there are very limited official controls or legal requirements applicable to control aflatoxin contamination specifically in peanuts intended for export to the EU. Official sampling for aflatoxins of peanuts intended for export to the EU is not always performed in a manner equivalent to the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 401/2006. There is scope to further develop and improve the application of good practices across the industry, which could help to reduce the levels of any aflatoxin contamination in peanuts exported to the EU.
Based on the conclusions, the European Commission recommends the following:
- Consider putting in place a mandatory and enforceable legal framework for an official export control procedure concerning aflatoxins in peanuts.
- Ensure that the recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice for the prevention and reduction of aflatoxin contamination in peanuts are implemented by food business operators whose peanuts are eligible to be exported to the EU.
- Ensure that sampling and sampling preparation is at least equivalent to the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 401/2006.
- Ensure that the validation data of laboratories which analyze peanuts intended for export to the EU for aflatoxins meet the requirements of method performance criteria in Regulation (EC) 401/2006.