AN OVERVIEW: SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS PROF.DR. Uygun AKSOY AEGEAN EXPORTERS’ ASSOCIATIONS CHAIR OF THE DRIED APRICOT AD HOC COMMITTEE

content SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS FRUCOM JOINT WORKING GROUPS DRIED FRUIT & NUTS, 26 January 2017, Brussels content SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives What we did? Key Figures Latest Scientific Works Key Findings RASFF Notifications What is next?

The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives Commission Regulation (EU) No 257/2010 sets up a programme for the re-evaluation of approved food additives, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 EFSA shall: a) Examine the original opinion and the working documents of the Scientific Committee on Food (‘SCF’) or EFSA; b) Examine, where available, the original dossier; c) Examine the data submitted by the interested business operator(s) and/or any other interested party; d) Examine any data made available by the Commission and Member States; e) Identify any relevant literature published.

SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives Procedure of the call for data; Step 1: Registration of the contact details of business operators interested in submitting data Step 2: Confirmation of data submission, deadlines and milestones Procedure for submission of the required data Confidential data Possibility for EFSA to use the data for the safety assessment of the additives

SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS What we did? Registered as an interested party and committed to submit the new data on absorption and excretion for sulphur dioxide in dried apricots and data relevant for addressing the estimated exceedance of the ADI of sulphur dioxide First meeting of ad-hoc Committee on January 10th, 2016 Formed an ad hoc Committee with the representatives of; Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, Universities, Research Institutions, Aegean Exporters’ Associations, Exporters Gathered information from Committee Members and apricot exporters

Key Figures – Estimated World Dried Apricot Production (MT) SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS SAFETY OF PERMITTED FOOD ADDITIVES Key Figures – Estimated World Dried Apricot Production (MT) Country 2015/2016 2016/2017 Turkey 84.500 103.250 Iran 15.000 Uzbekistan 8.500 9.000 China 5.000 6.000 Afghanistan 4.000 3.500 South Africa 1.446 1.500 USA 2.000 1.200 Others 30.300 30.000 World Total 150.746 169.450 Source: INC

Exported quantity, Tons SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Figures - World Export Exporters 2015 Exported quantity, Tons Turkey 65.267 Tajikistan 20.455 Uzbekistan 5.305 Kazakhstan 4.653 China 2.698 Spain 2.322 Germany 1.529 Netherlands 1.237 OTHERS 9.699 World 113.165 Source: Trade Map

Key Figures - Seasonal Turkish Dried Apricots Production and Export SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Figures - Seasonal Turkish Dried Apricots Production and Export Sulphured: 80,7% Natural: 9,6% Organic: 9,7% Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

Key Figures-Yearly Turkish Dried Apricots Export (MT) SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Figures-Yearly Turkish Dried Apricots Export (MT) Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

Key Figures-Monthly Turkish Dried Apricots Export 2016 (MT) SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Figures-Monthly Turkish Dried Apricots Export 2016 (MT) Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Monthly change in the amount (as %) of raw matter entering the processing plant and final product for exportation Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

Raw material sulphur contents Final product sulphur contents SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Preliminary results of the survey Raw material sulphur contents Crop year <1000 ppm 1000-2000 ppm 2000-3000 ppm >3000 ppm % 2014 1,4 29,7 47,6 23,2 2015 1,5 22,2 49,0 27,3 2016 1,0 27,2 46,3 25,5 Final product sulphur contents Crop year >1000 ppm 1000-2000 ppm 2000-3000 ppm >3000 ppm % 2014 1,4 68,6 18,2 11,8 2015 2,8 55,6 20,6 21,1 2016 0,9 60,0 19,5 19,6 Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

Latest Published Scientific Papers and Projects SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Latest Published Scientific Papers and Projects Papers: Quality and Nutritional Property Changes in Stored Dried Apricots Fumigated by Sulfur Dioxide, Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 56(2):200-206. 2015 How Does Sulphur Treatment Effect Quality Preservation Of Dried Apricot (cv. Kabaaşı) Fruıts In Storage?, Advances in Food Sciences PSP Volume 37 – No 3. 2015 Effect of Cold and Fluctuating Storage Conditions on Quality of Dried Apricot, Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 50(3):1-6. 2009. Projects: Development of Sulphuring, Drying and Storage Systems for High Quality Dried Apricots, TUBITAK MAM, Inonu Unıversıty, MARA Determination of Quality and Compositional Changes During Storage of Dried Apricot Fruit Treated at Different Sulphur Dioxide Concentrations, Ege University , Inonu University, Gazi Osman Paşa University 2013

Project: Development of Sulphuring, Drying and Storage Systems for High Quality Dried Apricots (TARAL 1007) 2014-2017 Partners: * TUBITAK (Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council) MAM * Mo Food, Agriculture and Livestock * İnönü University * GÖKSER Machinery Co.

SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Findings To prevent color darkening fruits are treated with SO2 before drying (except in organic and untreated natural apricots) Fruit color darkens as storage is extended, Various factors affect darkening : temperature, moisture content, pH, exposure to and concentration of SO2 SO2 treatment; Slows down mold and yeast growth Prevents insect damage Allows longer storage and marketing under ambient conditions Affects the nutritional value by preserving antioxidant compounds (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, and other antioxidants)

SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Findings Because of health concerns on sulphur, SO2 concentration in food has been revisited globally since decades. Today, different countries have set different maximum levels for sulphite in food. The importers have different limits or the buyer puts forth his own specifications. e.g. Australian government limit the amount of sulphites in food to 3000 ppm, while others as the European Union and Turkey, have 2000 ppm, and Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Additives has set up this limit at 1000 mg/kg for dried fruits, except some e.g. dried apricots (2000 mg/kg). SO2 content has been discussed by all the stakes of dried fruit trade, and the discussions today, target at establishing scientifically based maximum limits.

SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS MADDE 1 Key Findings MONTHS

Key Findings 3 months 6 months 12 months 15 months 18 months 1269 ppm RE-EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY OF PERMITTED FOOD ADDITIVES SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Findings 3 months 6 months 12 months 15 months 18 months 1269 ppm 2020 ppm 3434 ppm

Key Findings 2700 ppm 1700 ppm 1400 ppm 1040 ppm 750 ppm SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Findings 2700 ppm 1700 ppm 1400 ppm 1040 ppm 750 ppm Based upon the raw matter there could be a variation of 700 ppm among individual fruit

SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS Key Findings 750 ppm 1700 ppm 2700 ppm

RASFF Notifications for dried apricots of Turkish origin 2012 – 2016 SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS RASFF Notifications for dried apricots of Turkish origin 2012 – 2016 Year too high content of sulphite in dried apricots undeclared sulphite in dried apricots min. ppm max. ppm total 2012 2247 2620 3  - - 2013 2312 2963 4 1070 1 2014* 2277 3349 18 72 1723 2015 2040 5015 26 1505 2363 2 2016 2157 4407 530 2202 6 Source: RASFF Portal * After stricter controls

Drafting a document for the EFSA, Submission of required data, RE-EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY OF PERMITTED FOOD ADDITIVES SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS What is next? Drafting a document for the EFSA, Submission of required data, Discussions at national and international level.

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