August 2011
Commission Regulation (EU) No 835/2011 (OJ L215, p4, 20/08/2011) of 19 August 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foodstuffs
Summary: Following conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority this Regulation sets new maximum levels for the sum of four substances (PAH4) (benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene) and maintains a separate maximum level for benzo(a)pyrene. The Regulation will apply from 1 September 2012 and a number of dates are provided within the Regulation by which various listed foods must comply.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 836/2011 (OJ L215, p9, 20/08/2011 of 19 August 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 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
Summary: Commission Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 lays down analytical performance criteria only for benzo(a)pyrene, it is therefore necessary to lay down analytical performance criteria for the other three substances for which maximum levels are now set out in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 via Regulation (EC) No 835/2011. This Regulation also provides clarification on some aspects of the specific requirements for analytical methods, in particular the requirements regarding the use of the performance criteria and the ‘fitness-for-purpose’ approach. In addition, the presentation of the tables with the performance criteria is modified to appear more uniform across all analytes. The Regulation will apply from 1 September 2012
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2011 (OJ L218, p4, 24/08/2011) of 23 August 2011 approving the pre-export checks carried out by Canada on wheat and wheat flour as regards the presence of ochratoxin A
Summary: The EU Commission has assessed in detail the information provided by the Canadian Grain Commission, which is the competent authority of Canada with responsibility for pre-export checks, and it considers that the guarantees provided by Canada are satisfactory. Therefore this Regulation grants approval of pre-export checks carried out by Canada on wheat and wheat flour ensuring compliance with the maximum levels of ochratoxin A as laid down in EU law and sets out the documents which must accompany each consignment. The frequency of the physical checks of consignment of products is reduced to a maximum of 1 % of the number of consignments presented.
Commission Recommendation 2011/516/EU (OJ L218, p23, 24/08/2011) of 23 August 2011 on the reduction of the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in feed and food
Summary: This Recommendation takes account of the World Health Organisation (WHO) expert workshop in 2005 concerning the re- evaluation of the values of the toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) established by WHO in 1998. A number of TEF values were changed, notably for PCBs, octachlorinated congeners and pentachlorinated furans. The data on the effect of the new TEF values and the recent occurrence are compiled in the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific report ‘Results of the monitoring of dioxin levels in food and feed’. Therefore, this Recommendation takes account of the new TEF values and reviews the action levels where the levels are exceeded. Recommendation 2006/88/EC on the same subject will be replaced by this Regulation as from 1st January 2012.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 812/2011 (OJ L 208, p1, 13/08/2011) of 10 August 2011 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for dimethomorph, fluopicolide, mandipropamid, metrafenone, nicotine and spirotetramat in or on certain products
Summary: This Regulation amends the maximum residue levels for the listed substances and includes some new foodstuffs in the list of foods for which maximum levels of certain pesticides are set.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 813/2011 (OJ L208, p23, 13/08/2011) of 11 August 2011 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for acequinocyl, emamectin benzoate, ethametsulfuron-methyl, flubendiamide, fludioxonil, kresoxim-methyl, methoxyfenozide, novaluron, thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin in or on certain products
Summary: This Regulation amends Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 813/2011 in relation to the columns for kresoxim-methyl, methoxyfenozide, thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin and amends Annex III Part A in relation to the columns for acequinocyl, emamectin benzoate, flubendiamide, fludioxonil and novaluron and a column for ethametsulfuron-methyl is added. In Annex III Part B the columns for kresoxim-methyl and methoxyfenozide are replaced
Commission Implementing Decision 2011/513/EU (OJ L215, p20, 20/08/2011) of 19 August 2011 authorising the placing on the market of Phosphatidylserine from soya phospholipids as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Summary: Phosphatidylserine from soya phospholipids as specified in Annex I to the Decision may be placed on the market in the EU as a novel food ingredient for the uses specified in Annex II to that Decision . Foodstuff which contain it must label it as ‘Soya phosphatidylserine’.
Corrigendum (OJ L 230, p78, 07/09/2011) to Commission Implementing Decision 2011/513/EU of 19 August 2011 authorising the placing on the market of Phosphatidylserine from soya phospholipids as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 215, 20.8.2011)
Summary: Minor editorial correction.
Commission Implementing Decision 2011/494/EU (OJ L204, p23, 09/08/2011) of 5 August 2011 authorising the placing on the market of phosphated maize starch as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Summary: Phosphated distarch phosphate as specified in the Annex to the Decision may be placed on the EU market as a novel food ingredient for the uses in baked bakery products, pasta, breakfast cereals and cereal bars with a maximum content of 15 %. The designation of phosphated distarch phosphate on the labelling of the foodstuff containing it is ‘phosphated maize starch’.
Commission Implementing Decision 2011/497/EU (OJ L205, p33, 10/08/2011) of 9 August 2011 authorising the placing on the market of fermented black bean extract as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Summary: Fermented black bean extract as specified in the Annex to the Decision may be placed on the EU market as a novel food ingredient in food supplements without prejudice to the specific provisions of Directive 2002/46/EC (Food supplements) and Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 (Food fortification) , with a maximum intake of 4.5 g per day. The designation on the labelling of the foodstuff containing it shall be ‘fermented black bean (Soya) extract’ or ‘fermented Soya extract’.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 799/2011 (OJ L205, p15, 10/08/2011) of 9 August 2011 amending Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 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
Summary: Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 lays down rules concerning the increased level of official controls to be carried out on imports of feed and food of non- animal origin listed in Annex I to that Regulation at specified points of entry. This list of imports is reviewed on a regular basis and taking into account of information received since the previous amendment, this Regulation makes some changes to the level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 801/2011 (OJ L205, p27, 10/08/2011)of 9 August 2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 laying down lists of third countries, territories or parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the European Union of certain animals and fresh meat and the veterinary certification requirements
Summary: This amends Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 in relation to the suspension of the importof fresh de-boned and matured meat from ungulates from certain areas of Botswana
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2011 (OJ L 207, p1, 12/08/2011) of 11 August 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 as regards documentation accompanying imports of frozen fishery products directly from a freezer vessel
Summary: Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 provides that a document meeting certain requirements is to accompany consignments of products of animal origin when they are imported into the EU. However, Article 15(3) of that Regulation provides that when fishery products inter alia are imported directly from a freezer vessel, that document may be replaced by a document signed by the captain. This Regulation establishes a harmonised model document to be signed by the captain when fishery products are imported into the EU directly from a freezer vessel.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 794/2011 (OJ L 204, p19, 09/08/2011) of 8 August 2011 approving amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Parmigiano Reggiano (PDO))
Summary: Following Italy’s application for approval of amendments to the specification for the name ‘Parmigiano Reggiano’ a number of objections were received. However, as no agreement was reached within the procedural time limit, the Commission was required to adopt a decision. Its decision was to approve the amendments to the specification published in the OJ on 16 April 2009. This Regulation introduces a transitional period of 1 year for operators not established within the geographical area defined in the specification for the name ‘Parmigiano Reggiano’ and who were legally engaged in the portioning and packaging of cheese bearing the name ‘Parmigiano Reggiano’ outside the said defined geographical area for at least 5 years prior to 16 April 2009.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 893/2011 (OJ L231, p1, 08/09/2011) of 22 August 2011 approving non-minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Bresaola della Valtellina (PGI))
Summary: This Regulation approves Italy’s application for amendments to the specification of the protected geographical indication ‘Bresaola della Valtellina’
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 894/2011 (OJ L 231, p3, 08/09/2011) of 22 August 2011 approving non-minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Coppa Piacentina (PDO))
Summary: This Regulation approves Italy’s application to amend the specification for the protected designation of origin ‘Coppa Piacentina’
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 895/2011 (OJ L231, p5, 08/09/2011) of 22 August 2011 approving non-minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Pimiento Asado del Bierzo (PGI)
Summary: This Regulation approves Spain’s application to make amendments to the specification for the protected geographical indication ‘Pimiento Asado del Bierzo’.
Last reviewed: 15/11/2011