1. Module 6.1
Contaminant Monitoring Part 1 – Promoting food safety along the food chain

2. Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Objectives
To make stakeholders aware of the importance of the role of monitoring programmes in assuring food safety
To make stakeholders aware of main considerations in planning monitoring programmes
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

3. Outline of presentation
What is contaminant monitoring and how does it contribute to food safety
Factors to consider in the design and operation of monitoring programmes
International guidelines on food contaminants and use of food contaminant monitoring data internationally
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

4. Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
What are contaminants?
Contaminants
Any substance not intentionally added to food, which is present in such food as a result of the production, manufacture, processing, treatment, packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food or as a result of environmental contamination
Codex definition
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

5. Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
What is monitoring?
Possible working definition
The act of carrying out planned observations, measurements, etc in order to collect, review and use information for a stated goal (to assess a particular situation)
Food contaminant monitoring
The act of carrying out planned observations or measurements related to the occurrence of food contaminants in order to collect and analyse information needed to achieve stated food safety goals
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

6. Why contaminant monitoring?
To protect public health
From chemical and microbiological hazards
Through proactive, preventative programmes based on scientific evidence
By enabling better prioritisation of food control resources
By regular evaluation of efficacy of existing food safety measures
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

7. Why contaminant monitoring?
To facilitate food trade
By providing a scientific base to support food safety decisions
By developing consumer or importer trust through demonstrated commitment to food safety
Through improved transparency by making contaminant data widely available
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

8. Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Food-borne hazards
Monitoring programmes provide information on occurrence of hazards
A hazard is: A biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition of, food with the potential to cause an adverse health effect
Hazards can include
Micro-organisms
Heavy metals and environmental contaminants
Residues of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals
Naturally-occurring toxins
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

9. Mycotoxins – an important food safety hazard
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by a number of moulds while growing on a range of foods
The elimination of this naturally occurring toxin from the food supply is not possible – good food safety management allows the reduction of these hazards to tolerable levels
Public health risks are associated with acute and chronic exposure to mycotoxins
Mycotoxin monitoring programmes exist in many countries
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

10. Responsibilities for food safety
Food industry
Is responsible for ensuring that food produced is safe and meets all requirements established by government
Government
Is responsible for establishing food safety requirements for industry to meet
Should ensure compliance with food safety requirements
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

11. Economic operators in the food chain
Why are they responsible for food safety?
They are in the best position to prevent or minimise the occurrence of hazards by implementing adequate food safety management programmes throughout the food chain
Adequate food safety management is part of the ‘cost’ of doing business – they should bear this cost
They can benefit through increased consumer confidence (and reduced loses)
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

12. Government’s interest in food safety
Government has a responsibility to defend public interests – such as public health
Government must safeguard the country’s economic interest by assuring importing countries that their food safety requirements are met
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

13. How does industry meet its food safety responsibilities?
Maintaining adequate quality assurance programmes
GHP in primary production
Raw material control systems
Cleaning, sanitation and pest control
Process controls
Proper storage and transportation
Document control systems
Carrying out periodic monitoring to verify that standard operating procedures and quality/safety assurance programmes are functioning well
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

14. How does government meet its food safety responsibilities?
Communication with economic operators at all stages of the food chain and consumers on food safety issues
Establishment of appropriate legislation and regulations
Economic operators should be consulted during the process of elaborating legislation and regulations
Legislation and regulations should be consistent with international guidelines and regulations
Training and other technical support to industry
Government has an important role to play in assisting economic operators to understand and meet their food safety obligations
Technical support to economic operators must be tailored to their needs – this is particularly important for small enterprises
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

15. How does government meet its food safety responsibilities?
Implementation of controls to ensure compliance
Adequate resources are necessary to run compliance programmes
Monitoring programmes allow verification that food safety measures are effective
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

16. Contaminant Monitoring Part 2 – Design and operation of programmes
Module 6.1
Contaminant Monitoring Part 2 – Design and operation of programmes

17. Monitoring data – basis for decision-making
Deciding what contaminants might be of public health concern
Providing data for risk assessment of contaminants thought to present a substantial public health risk
Allowing assessment of risk management options for handling specific problem
Allows continual evaluation of adequacy of existing food safety measures / suitability of food handling practices
Can facilitate pro-active food safety programming
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

18. Monitoring data – building stakeholder confidence
Demonstrates commitment to food safety
Making data available to stakeholders can build trust
Trust can lead to improved cooperation – nationally and internationally
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

19. Contaminant monitoring – initial planning
First step should be a clear statement of programme objectives
May serve to give a general picture of exposure to contaminants and toxins
Can be used to investigate some specific problem
May allow evaluation of effectiveness of a particular food safety measure
Can allow assessment of impact of new industry practices
Etc...
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

20. Contaminant monitoring – joint planning?
The better the background information, the better the planning of a monitoring programme
Scope for collaboration with industry and trade bodies, other government or research institutions?
Other agencies/groups might be interested in collaborating in monitoring programme
Staff and financial resources to support monitoring programmes are important considerations
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

21. Contaminant monitoring – programme design
Must be well matched with stated objectives
Should take into consideration compounds that are likely to be of public health significance
Should take into consideration factors known to affect level of contaminant (climatic conditions, geology, processing/ handling methods)
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

22. Contaminant monitoring – programme design
Should select appropriate matrices (target tissues) for sampling and testing
Should include the statistical basis for the sampling plan and analysis of results
Should take into consideration available resources (technical and financial) to support the programme
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

23. Contaminant monitoring – programme operation
Describe sampling procedures including sample selection, collection, identification and security
Describe analytical methods, document that they are validated and consistent with stated objectives of monitoring programme
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

24. Contaminant Monitoring Part 3 – The international context
Module 6.1
Contaminant Monitoring Part 3 – The international context

25. Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Codex and food safety
Codex standards and guidelines are recognised by the WTO as the benchmark for safety of food in international trade
Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted many standards, guidelines and maximum levels relevant to monitoring programmes for food contaminants and other hazards
Codex food safety standards are based on risk analysis
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

26. Codex General Standard on Contaminants and Toxins in Foods
Takes a ‘horizontal’ approach to dealing with contaminants and toxins in food and feed (does not cover residues of vet. drugs or pesticides)
Outlines general principles on contaminants in foods
Emphasis on prevention measures
Risk assessment is necessary when contaminated foods pose a health hazard
Risk management policy must be applied to deal with substantiated public health concerns
National measures should not be unnecessarily trade restrictive
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

27. Codex General Standard on Contaminants and Toxins in Foods
States principles for establishing maximum levels
Max. level of a contaminant in a food should only be set when the food contributes significantly to total exposure
All technological possibilities to comply with max. levels should be taken into account
Outlines criteria to be considered when making recommendations on contaminants in Codex, covering
Toxicological information
Analytical data
Intake data
Fair trade considerations
Technological considerations
Risk assessment and risk management considerations
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

28. Codex maximum and guideline levels for contaminants
Methyl mercury in some fish
Vinyl Chloride and Acrylonitrile in food and packaging material
Maximum level and sampling plan for aflatoxin in peanuts (for further processing)
Radionuclides in foods
Aflatoxin M1 in milk
Patulin in apple juice
Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead in various product groups
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

29. Codex maximum levels for chemical residues
Database of Codex maximum levels are available from the Codex website
Codex MRLs for pesticides
Codex EMRLs*
Codex MRLs for vet. drugs
* Extraneous maximum residue limit for contaminants arising from environmental sources, including former agricultural use
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

30. Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
GEMS/Food
The Global Environmental Monitoring System/Food contamination and assessment programme was established in 1976
GEMS/Food is implemented by WHO in cooperation with a network of collaborating institutions in over 70 countries
GEMS/Food contaminant databases are available at the WHO web site
GEMS/Food periodically prepares assessment documents to provide a global overview of problems of chemicals in food
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

31. Use of GEMS/Food monitoring data
GEMS/Food informs governments, Codex Alimentarius Commission and other relevant institutions as well as general public
On levels and trends of contaminants in foods
Contribution of contaminants in foods to total human exposure
Monitoring data is used in carrying out international risk assessments
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

32. Use of monitoring data in food safety decision-making
Contaminant monitoring
programmes
Codex
Scientific Advisory bodies - JECFA,
JMPR, JEMRA
Patterns of contamination,
Exposure data
Maximum levels
Guidelines and Codes of practice
Results of risk
assessment
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

33. Recent JECFA risk assessments of mycotoxins
Aflatoxin in peanuts - comparison of public health significance of maximum levels of 10 and 15g/kg
Aflatoxin M1 in milk - public health significance of maximum levels of 0.05 vs. 0.5g/kg
Ochratoxin A in cereal products - public health significance of maximum levels of 5 vs. 20g/kg
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring

34. Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Conclusions
Contaminant monitoring is an important component of food control programmes
Data from monitoring programmes strengthen risk assessment and risk management decisions at international and national levels
Monitoring programmes must be carefully designed and implemented according to stated objectives
Collaboration among stakeholder groups should lead to better planning of monitoring programmes and optimal use of available resources in their implementation
Adequate food analysis capability and capacity is essential to support contaminant monitoring programmes
Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring