ANSES - Le Magazine

cadmium, nickel and mercury in foodstuffs of animal origin is ensured by an operational plan aiming at risk identification and the quantification and characterisation of the hazards related to trace metals found in foods.

In 2014, several surveillance and control plans (targeted sampling) as well as an exploratory plan were implemented to monitor trace metals (lead, cadmium, mercury and methylmercury) in foodstuffs. These plans generated 6,908 analyses in various matrices (fish products, livestock products, milk, game, poultry, rabbits and honey). Processing of the results showed a completion rate of 99.3% and a rate of non-compliance (with the regulatory maximum levels or national alert thresholds) ranging from 0.7% to 16% across all sectors, excluding the equine industry. The identified non-compliances were managed based on the identified risk. They also helped to maintain or strengthen the surveillance of certain analyte/matrix pairs, such as lead in game meat and cadmium in equine liver.

In general, the surveillance system in place has contributed to estimating consumer exposure to trace metals as well as to populating databases (methylmercury exploratory plan) for enhanced risk assessment. The analysis of the monitoring system was an opportunity to present prospects for improvement including the need to define more suitable sample targeting criteria that are easier to implement. Another area for improvement would be the implementation of a tool for improving the quality of data generated by monitoring and control plans.

The Directorate General for Food (DGAL) of the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-food and Forestry manages a surveillance system for contaminants in food and feed. The system is complex and involves many stakeholders interacting with one another. Its main objectives are to verify if products are safe and to monitor trends in contamination over time.

In 2014, 25 surveillance programmes were implemented, across the different food sectors all along the food chain. No less than 58,179 samples were collected and approximately 800,000 analytical results were produced. As in previous years, contamination levels in food and feed were low. Data were processed on the one hand by the authorities to implement immediate risk-mitigation measures and to

communicate about official actions, and on the other hand by the scientific community to conduct research work.

In 2014 again, when we look at the results, the surveillance system in place has shown evidence of effectiveness, despite many regulatory and methodological constraints, thanks to the strong commitment of the different stakeholders and the significant allocation of human and financial resources. However, a number of points could be improved to optimise the system and thus improve data quality and communication on the results.