Food News

There are plans to introduce maximum levels for non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDC-PCBs) in other foods of animal origin.

Maximum levels for non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in certain foods are already laid down in the European Contaminants Regulation (EU) 2023/915. At national level, i.e. in the German Contaminants Regulation, maximum levels for NDC-PCBs already exist in certain other foods of animal origin.

These currently specify maximum levels for meat from horses, rabbits, wild boar, game birds and game animals. The maximum levels in Regulation (EU) 2023/915 and the German Contaminants Regulation (KmV) apply to the sum of the six indicator PCBs (PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180). The European Commission has now launched a ‘targeted consultation of interested parties’ on the introduction of maximum levels for NdL-PCBs in certain other foods of animal origin.

This largely affects products that are already regulated in Germany under the KmV. The proposals under discussion concern meat and meat products, excluding edible offal and products from horses, rabbits, wild game birds and ‘deer’ (Cerividiae) 40 ng/g fat (= 0.04 mg/kg), from wild boar 80 ng/g fat (= 0.08 mg/kg) and for liver from wild game birds and products derived therefrom 5.0 ng/g wet weight (= 0.005 mg/kg)

These proposals differ from the KmV, which distinguishes between products with ‘up to 10% fat’ and those with ‘more than 10% fat’.

YOUR PLUS: We are following the discussion and will inform you when new limits are set. Until then, we will evaluate the results according to the currently valid regulations.

Author: Dr Frank Mörsberger AGROLAB GROUP