EU Commission reports surge in food safety alerts for 2023

The European Commission has released its 2023 Annual Report, revealing a significant uptick in notifications related to food safety and agri-food fraud within the Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN), which includes the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the Administrative Assistance and Cooperation Network (AAC), the Agri-Food Fraud Network (FFN), and the Plant Health Network (PHN).    

The report highlights an 8% increase in RASFF notifications, bringing the total to nearly 4 700 alerts. The predominant reasons for these notifications were the presence of pesticide residues, microbiological hazards—particularly Salmonella—and mycotoxins. The leading notifying countries were Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, while Poland, the Netherlands, and France were the most frequent countries of origin for the products involved. Among non-EU nations, Turkey, China, and India topped the list.    

The report underscores the growing concerns regarding food safety, with notifications of commercial fraud, counterfeiting, and adulteration also on the rise. In total, notifications of non-compliance that did not pose immediate health risks surged by 24%, amounting to over 3 100 alerts. Most of these notifications involved fruit and vegetables rejected at customs due to unauthorized pesticide use and live animals flagged for missing or improper documentation.    

The report provides an in-depth analysis of RASFF notifications, indicating that out of 4 695 total notifications, 4 199 were related to food, 303 to feed, and 193 to food contact materials. This marks the highest number of original notifications ever recorded in the system.    
The most reported products for RASFF notifications were fruits and vegetables, with 259 alerts. In terms of border rejections—products blocked at EU borders due to health risks—fruits and vegetables also led the way, accounting for 648 notifications.  
Pesticide residues remained the most frequently reported hazard category, with 936 notifications, despite a decline compared to previous years. Chlorpyrifos was the most commonly reported pesticide, followed by acetamiprid and ethylene oxide.  
Pathogenic microorganisms were the second most common hazard, with 856 notifications, predominantly involving poultry meat products.  
Mycotoxins were the third most reported hazard, with 401 notifications primarily concerning aflatoxins in nuts and seeds.    

The 2023 Annual Report serves as a crucial tool for understanding the evolving landscape of food safety in the EU, highlighting both the challenges and the proactive measures being taken to protect consumers and ensure fair competition in the agri-food sector.  
The European Commission, as the manager of the ACN, continues to provide expertise and support to member states to facilitate information exchange. As the network grows, the collaboration between countries aims to ensure that all food products entering the market are safe for consumption.    

 

Source:  

European Commission