Research

TRC

Co-ordinated Research Programme on Evaluation of Methods of Analysis for Determining Mycotoxin Contamination of Food and Feed

1. Background

The proposed Co-ordinated Research Programme is to complement the FAO/IAEA Training and Reference Centre (TRC) for Food and Pesticide Control under the Centre's mission "to assist Member States and their institutions to fulfil requirements to support the implementation of international standards/agreements relevant to food safety and control, the safe use of pesticides and sanitary and phytosanitary measures, by providing training, quality assurance services and technology transfer."

Based on the Global Environment Monitoring System - Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (GEMS/Food) data and other national data on mycotoxin contamination, mycotoxins are a widespread problem of the food supplies in most countries. As a result, many countries have enacted regulations to control the level of mycotoxins in the national food supply as well as in food moving in international trade. At the international level, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, through its Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants and relevant commodity committees, is considering the establishment of international guideline levels for various mycotoxins based on risk assessments performed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Codex activities are of particular importance in view of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement as well as on the WTO's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. The SPS Agreement specifically refers to Codex standards, guidelines and recommendations as representing the international consensus on health and safety requirements for food based on sound scientific risk assessment. This will require national authorities to give greater attention to the development of consistent and standardised approaches to regulations and their enforcement, including sampling and methods of analysis.

Consequently, it is essential that the analytical capabilities of laboratories in developing countries are strengthened in order to enable them to effectively monitor the mycotoxin content of food in trade to overcome the non-tariff barriers based on the Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization

Those mycotoxins which are currently considered to be of world-wide importance and of commercial relevance are: the aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and M1, ochratoxin A, patulin, trichothecenes, zearalenone, and fumonisins. Agricultural products which are particularly prone to contamination include edible nuts, cereals, dried fruit, oilseed products, coffee beans, apple juice and dairy products.

There is a need to develop research data on the effectiveness of the various analytical methods, including radioimmunoassays, used by food control laboratories to monitor mycotoxin contamination in order to select and recommend cost-effective validated procedures.

2. Overall Objectives

To assist national food control laboratories in identifying and validating time and cost efficient methods for detection and quantification of mycotoxins in food in order to effectively monitor the mycotoxin content of agricultural import and exports.

3. Specific Research Objectives

*Identify high risk mycotoxin/commodity combinations that present impediments to trade through regulations and/or are non -tariff barriers to trade.

*Evaluate analytical methods used by food control laboratories in developing and advanced countries for detection and quantification of these mycotoxins.

*Select time and cost efficient validated methods best suited for analysing the high risk mycotoxin/commodity chosen.

* Make recommendations to developing countries of an established portfolio of appropriate and harmonized analytical methods with good performance characteristics.

4. Expected Outputs

*Standardised analytical methods.

*Validated procedures.

*Publications including TECDOC and manuals.

*More effective use of laboratory resources: time and money.

*Improved implementation and compliance with legislation.

*Submission of harmonized methods for endorsement by Codex Methods Committee.

5. Action Plan

Activity 1: Establish a network of national food control laboratories and research institutions to participate in the CRP

The CRP will involve some 10 institutions in developing countries and five or more in advanced countries. Priorities will be given to institutions which will use methods to detect and quantify mycotoxins in commodities which represent trade problems and are object of present or planned regulatory activities. Emphasis will also be in time and cost efficient methods with good performance characteristics which have a realistic opportunity of being implemented in developing countries.

Activity 2: Hold first Research Co-ordination Meeting

It is recommended that the first RCM takes place during the first half of 1999.

The meeting will: