2 replies to this topic

[sanidadexterior]

Does Turkish fig pose a health risk due to its aflatoxin and ochratoxin content?

Thousands of tons of dried figs are imported into the European Union from Turkey each year. Similarly, dozens of notifications appear in RASFF each year due to the presence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in quantities exceeding the maximum levels permitted in the EU (6 ppb of B1, 10 ppb of total aflatoxins, and 8 ppb of OTA).

Some RASFF notifications indicate high levels of contamination (2024.8958 = 390 ppb of OTA, 2022.0092 = 330 ppb of aflatoxin B1).

To manage this risk, the European Commission has included dried figs in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 for the investigation of the presence of aflatoxins.

However, the aforementioned Regulation currently does not provide for monitoring the OTA content of dried figs from Turkey.

Does the presence of aflatoxins and ochratoxins in Turkish figs pose a potential risk?

Is the European Commission managing this potential risk appropriately?

Currently, and with the current consumption level, it appears that the risk assessment indicates an MoE above 10,000. This assessment may not be valid for certain population groups who, for cultural or religious reasons, may have a higher consumption of this product.

 

For more information, see the file attached.

Attached Files

•  higo secoe.pdf   6.28MB   4 downloads

Edited by sanidadexterior, 26 March 2025 - 08:15 PM.

[GMO]

Regulators may not be testing enough but importers certainly should be.  This is a known risk with all dried fruits and so should be on a routine testing programme within an organisation, not just relying on regulators to my view.

[sanidadexterior]

Currently, EU Regulation 2019/1793 establishes a 30% sampling rate for imported consignments of Turkish dried figs.

European companies importing Turkish dried figs can be confident that this level of border control is sufficient to keep the risk of aflatoxins under control.

The issue of OTA is different; there is no harmonized border control for this risk; in this case, a self-monitoring system would be advisable.

In other markets, such as the USA, the maximum legal levels are more lenient (there is no limit for AFB1 or OTA; for total aflatoxins, it is 20 ppb).

A supplier control program is important.