Ethylene oxide: EU meeting raises concerns about how the issue has been handled

Representatives from EU Member States (MSs), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission (DG Health and Food Safety), and the EU Reference Laboratories (EURLs) recently met to get insight into the actual implementation of the EU harmonized approach for the management of the incident of ethylene oxide (ETO) by the Competent Authorities.  

The majority of MSs confirmed the application of the harmonized risk management approach. However, the non-uniform implementation by some MSs led to market distortions, therefore it was stressed the necessity of implementing an EU-wide approach in all MSs.  

Since more and more products are found contaminated from different origins, several MSs reported difficulties in following the agreed management approach for processed composite food. In some MSs, the approach taken was adapted over time to take into account the evolution of the situation.  

Some MSs informed that they are mainly following up on RASFF notifications but that there is no or a limited amount of samples taken under their own monitoring programmes.  

Considering all of these, some EU MSs voiced concerns on whether, in practice, there is really an EU harmonized approach applied by all, and called for a new Crisis Coordinators’(CC) Meeting.  

The Commission clarified that a harmonized EU approach had been agreed at the CC meeting of 13 July 2021. However, the Commission clarified that another CC meeting could be organized to build on the experience gained and to draw lessons learned notably on the adherence to the harmonized management approaches once agreed.    

 

Source:    

https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2022-02/rasff_ethylene-oxide-incident_e410_crisis-coord_20220120_sum.pdf