Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : S/F to EIC 230/2/12

18 March 2014

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 251/2014

European Union (EU)* : Amendment to Regulation Setting Maximum Levels for Certain Contaminants in Foodstuffs

Further to our Commercial Information Circular No. 533/2012 of 10 July 2012, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 concerning the maximum levels of the contaminant citrinin in food supplements based on rice fermented with red yeast Monascus purpureus. Details are set out in the Commission Regulation (EU) No 212/2014, which can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2014:067:0003:0004:EN:PDF

DETAILS

2.Data available on the presence of citrinin in certain red yeast rice preparations revealed high levels of citrinin in those preparations. Therefore, it is appropriate to establish a maximum level for citrinin in red yeast rice preparations by amending the Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 which has set maximum levels for mycotoxins in food. The Regulation shall apply from 1 April 2014.

3.Given the gap in knowledge as regards the presence of citrinin in other foodstuffs and the remaining uncertainties as regards the carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of citrinin, it is appropriate to review the maximum level within two years’ time once more information has been gathered as regards the toxicity of citrinin and the exposure from other foodstuffs.

ENQUIRIES

4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5556.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Anita WONG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.