Post on 12-Jan-2016
transcript
Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain
Contaminant MonitoringPart 1 – Promoting food safety
along the food chain
Module 6.1
Slide 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
Slide 3 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 4 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
What are contaminants?
ContaminantsAny 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
Slide 5 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
What is monitoring?
Possible working definitionThe 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 monitoringThe 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
Slide 6 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 7 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 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
Slide 9 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 10 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 11 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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)
Slide 12 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 13 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
How does industry meet itsfood 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
Slide 14 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
How does government meet itsfood 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
Slide 15 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
How does government meet itsfood 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
Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain
Contaminant MonitoringPart 2 – Design and
operation of programmes
Module 6.1
Slide 17 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 18 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 19 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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...
Slide 20 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 21 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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)
Slide 22 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 23 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain
Contaminant MonitoringPart 3 – The international context
Module 6.1
Slide 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
Slide 26 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 27 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 28 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Codex maximum and guideline levelsfor 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
Slide 29 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Codex maximum levelsfor chemical residues
Database of Codex maximum levels are available from the Codex website Codex MRLs for pesticides - 2466 Codex EMRLs* - 50 Codex MRLs for vet. drugs - 289
* Extraneous maximum residue limit for contaminants arising from environmental sources, including former
agricultural use
Slide 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
Slide 31 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
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
Slide 32 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Use of monitoring data infood 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
Slide 33 Module 6.1 – Contaminant Monitoring
Recent JECFA riskassessments of mycotoxins
Aflatoxin in peanuts - comparison of public health significance of maximum levels of 10 and 15g/kg
Aflatoxin M1 in milk - public health significance of maximum levels of 0.05 vs. 0.5g/kg
Ochratoxin A in cereal products - public health significance of maximum levels of 5 vs. 20g/kg
Slide 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