the cucumber and horse meat crises - unitus · timeline 2011 1 18 35 . 52 . 69 86 103 . 120 . 2011...

The cucumber and horse meat crises

OUTLINE

• Cucumber crisis (E. Coli) 2011: • EFSA Reports;

• EU Commission Decisions (see art. 53 Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002).

• Horsegate scandal 2013;

• Differences and similarities;

• Conclusions.

TIMELINE

2011 1 18 35 52 69 86 103 120 2011

EFSA Report. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O104:H4 2011 outbreaks in Europe:Taking Stock

3/10/2011

Commission Implementing Decision 2011/402/EU

6/7/2011

EFSA Final Report

5/7/2011

France reported a cluster of patients suffering from the same symptoms as those in Germany

24/6/2011

EFSA urgent advice on the public health risk of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli in fresh vegetables

9/6/2011

Joint EFSA/ECDC technical report

8/6/2011

Germany notified the Commission

via the RASFF

27/5/2011

Germany reported the news to the ECDC

(European Center for Disease Prevention and

Control)

22/5/2011

Germany reported an ongoing outbreak of

STEC, serotype O104:H4

21/5/2011

- May 21st, Germany reported an ongoing outbreak of STEC, serotype

O104:H4 ;

- May 22nd, Germany reported the news to the ECDC (European Center

for Disease Prevention and Control);

- May 27th, Germany notified the Commission via the RASFF;

- June 09th, Urgent advice on the public health risk of Shiga-toxin

producing Escherichia coli in fresh vegetables;

- June 24th, France reported a cluster of patients suffering from the

same symptoms as those in Germany;

- July 05th, EFSA Final Report;

- July 06th, Commission Implementing Decision on emergency

measures applicable to fenugreek seeds and certain seeds and beans

imported from Egypt;

-October 03rd, EFSA Report. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)

O104:H4 2011 outbreaks in Europe: Taking Stock.

Trace back and trace forward investigations

“Lot # 48088 of fenugreek seeds imported by the German Importer, from Egypt” was “the most likely

common link, although” it could not “be excluded that other lots could be implicated”.

EFSA Technical Report – Tracing seeds, in particular fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds, in relation to the Shiga toxing-producing E. coli (STEC) O104:h4 2011 Outbreaks in Germany and France

Commission Implementing Decision

2011/402/EU

• All lots of fenugreek seeds linked to the tracing back exercise had to be withdrawn from the market and destroyed.

• The release for free circulation in the EU of seeds and beans from Egypt was prohibited until 31 October 2011.

Precautionary Principle

Feedback to be provided by Egyptian Competent Authorities. Appropriate risk management measures.

Following acts…

• Decision 2011/662/EU

• Decision 2011/718/EU

• Regulation (EU) No. 585/2011







What do we get from this case?

Positive

• Traceability works.

Negative

• Consequences of an ill-considered risk communication;

• Risk management acting overly broadly;

• Public opinion influence on risk management.

The Horsegate

Was it a true crisis, according to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002?

feb 2013

Recommendation No 93/13/COL of the EFTA Surveillance Authority concerning a coordinated control plan with a view to establish the prevalence of fraudolent practices in the marketing of certain foods

21/2/2013

Commission Recommendation on a coordinated control plan with a view to establish the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods

19/2/2013

Unauthorised substance phenylbutazone (1.6; 1.4 µg/kg - ppb) in chilled horse meat from the United Kingdom

14/2/2013

The Commission appealed to all Member States to conduct DNA tests on all beef products.

13/2/2013

Adulteration (containing unlabelled horse meat DNA >60 %) of frozen beef lasagne from France and Italy, processed in Luxembourg, with raw material from Romania, via the Netherlands (information for follow up- company's own check)

8/2/2013

Unauthorised substance phenylbutazone (4.9 µg/kg - ppb) in chilled horsemeat from the United Kingdomance phenylbutazone (1.6; 1.4 µg/kg - ppb) in chilled horse meat from the United Kingdom

5/2/2013

Undeclared meat labelling

• No public health risk.

• February 26th, 2013: 3600 tonnes of processed food were implicated in the adulteration and withdrawn from the market (RASFF state of play).

• After February 26th: 20 notifications.

• What happened after the withdrawal?

What do we get from this case?

Positive

• Traceability works.

Negative

• Even when there is no risk for human health, products can be withdrawn from the market (and related costs are charged to the operator);

• There is confusion about the purpose of traceability (operators)

and about the purpose of food labelling requirements (consumers);

• Confusion between food safety and misleading practices.

The two cases: a comparison

Cucumber crisis

• Food safety;

• RASFF alert notification;

• Operators suffered damages from both withdrawal and consumers’ reaction;

• Withdrawal and destruction;

• Excessive “zeal” in the risk management phase.

Horsegate

• Absence of risks for human health;

• RASFF information notification for follow up;

• Operators suffered damages both from withdrawal and consumers’ reaction;

• Withdrawal and re-labelling;

• Intensification of controls.

Conclusions

• Yours;

• Mine;

• Question time.

Thank you for your attention!

the cucumber and horse meat crises - unitus · timeline 2011 1 18 35 . 52 . 69 86 103 . 120 . 2011...

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