P & R Is For Food Contamination Risks From Pollution & Radiation

Pollution in the food chain or in processing can disrupt the most efficient of operations - whether this is 'pollution' by bacteria, via a virus (foot and mouth/bird flu), chemical (dioxin contamination) or radiation from a nuclear accident following an earthquake as most recently occurred in Japan. These crises may have domestic, European or global repercussions for production, customers and supply chains.

Different levels of control apply to the safety of food and feed depending on the type of pollution or contamination. Food Business Operators must have appropriate internal controls in place as set out under the General Food Regulation 178/2002, and they must comply with food and feed hygiene and quality regulations throughout the various stages of production and supply. Domestic UK incidents may result in an Emergency Control Order and EU/global measures may require the suspension of the marketing or use of the feed or food in question, or such use and marketing may be subject to special conditions or another appropriate interim measure. Specific EU emergency measures must be proportionate and weigh up the requirements of the so-called Precautionary Principle.

The earthquake in Japan in March 2011 and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant resulted in EU controls on imports of food and feed from certain regions of Japan, where production could be affected by radiation. This has resulted in special import measures being imposed, as set out in Regulation 297/2011, which are reviewed every month.

Only 0.1% of food imports received by the UK come from Japan. Currently, there is no evidence of risk for the EU consumer by increased radiation levels in food and feed products imported from Japan.

The German dioxin contamination incident that occurred in January 2011 caused a much greater impact on supply chains. However, the efficient action by the German authorities resulted in the EU concluding there was no risk of potentially contaminated food or feed being placed on the EU market or being distributed to third countries after the incident was notified. In the UK, this incident resulted in the voluntary removal by some retailers of the small number of products still in date that may have...