ec - News - FoodAuthenticity2024-03-28T10:01:18Zhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/feed/tag/ecEuropean Parliament & Council agree to strengthen marketing standards for honey, fruit juices, jams & milkhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/european-parliament-council-agree-to-strengthen-marketing-standar2024-02-02T11:47:36.000Z2024-02-02T11:47:36.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}5017229654,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}5017229654,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="300" alt="5017229654?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a>The European Parliament and Council agreed to review and strengthen<strong> the existing marketing standards applicable to honey, fruit juices, jams and milk</strong>. The so-called Breakfast Directives lay down common rules on the composition, sales names, labelling and presentation of these products to ensure their free movement within the internal market and help consumers make informed choices.</p>
<p>The revised Directives agreed upon by the co-legislators will introduce the following changes:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mandatory origin labelling for honey: </strong> the countries of origin in honey blends will have to appear on the label in descending order with the percentage share of each origin. Member States will have the flexibility to require percentages for the four largest shares only when they account for more than 50% of the blend. The Commission is empowered by the co-legislators to introduce harmonised methods of analysis to detect honey adulteration with sugar, a uniform methodology to trace the origin of honey and criteria to ascertain that honey is not overheated when sold to the final consumer. A Platform will be set up to advise the Commission on those matters. This will limit fraudulent practices and increase the transparency of the food chain.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Innovation and market opportunities for fruit juices in line with new consumers demands:</strong> Three new categories will become available: ‘reduced-sugar fruit juice‘, ‘reduced-sugar fruit juice from concentrate‘ and ‘concentrated reduced-sugar fruit juice‘. This way<strong> </strong>consumers can choose a juice with at least 30% less sugars. It will be possible for fruit juices to indicate on their labels that “fruit juices contain only naturally occurring sugars” to clarify that, contrary to fruit nectars, fruit juices cannot by definition contain added sugars – a feature that most of the consumers are not aware of.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Higher mandatory fruit content in jams:</strong> an increase of the minimum fruit content in jams (from 350 to 450 grams per kilo) and in extra-jams (from 450 to 500 grams per kilo) will improve the minimum quality and reduce the sugar content of these products for EU consumers. Member States will be allowed to authorise the term ‘marmalade' as a synonym of ‘jam', to take into account of the name commonly used locally for these products. The term “marmalade” was authorised until now only for citrus jams.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Simplified labelling for milk:</strong> the distinction between ‘evaporated' and ‘condensed' milk will be removed, in line with the Codex Alimentarius standard. Lactose-free dehydrated milk will also be authorised.</li>
</ul>
<p>The political agreement reached by the European Parliament, Council and Commission is now subject to formal approval by the co-legislators. From entry into force 20 days after publication of the final text, Member States will have 18 months to transpose the new provisions into national law and 6 more months before it applies throughout the European Union.</p>
<p>Read full <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_563" target="_blank">press release</a>.</p></div>JRC Guidance on DNA extraction methods publishehttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/jrc-guidance-on-dna-extraction-methods-publishe2024-01-30T12:09:36.000Z2024-01-30T12:09:36.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/23888f07-bf43-11ee-b164-01aa75ed71a1/language-en" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12368336463,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12368336463?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="340" /></a><span style="font-size:10pt;">The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published guidance on the selection and use of DNA extraction methods.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Extracting DNA of suitable quality and quantity from a test sample is a fundamental upstream step that underpins the confidence in a number of downstream analytical molecular biology based methods (e.g., qPCR. dPCR, NGS, etc.,).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;">This official guidance document provides advice on the selection and use of fit for purpose DNA extraction methods. Whilst this guidance uses the example of DNA extraction in the context of official controls for the analysis of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the principles it describes are universally <strong>applicable to all DNA based methods including those for food authenticity</strong>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Advice is provided on the selection of different protocols and decision support systems, and guidance provided on validation approaches and the assessment of DNA quality parameters, further illustrated with practical examples/solutions based on extensive collective experiences.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Access guidance: DOI: <a title="" href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2760/76162" target="_blank">10.2760/76162 (online)</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;">This guidance has also been added to the <a href="https://www.foodauthenticity.global/quality" target="_blank">Quality</a> section of this website.</span></p></div>Call for expression of interest - Identifying the adulteration of beeswaxhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/call-for-expression-of-interest-identifying-the-adulteration-of-b2024-01-23T12:53:54.000Z2024-01-23T12:53:54.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12365337854,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12365337854,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="318" height="316" alt="12365337854?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a>The Food Integrity Unit of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/joint-research-centre_en" target="_blank">JRC</a>), is looking for laboratories with expertise in beeswax analyses, interested in participating in a method validation study by inter-laboratory comparison according to ISO 5725-2. <br />The goal is to evaluate repeatability and reproducibility of the gas chromatography based analytical method for quantifying paraffin n-alkanes respectively stearin/stearic acid in beeswax with the aim to identify potential adulteration of beeswax. <br />The participants will receive a set of beeswax test samples, the detailed analytical protocol of the method, and the necessary consumables, free of charge. <br />If you interested in being part of this important project that will lead to the future standardisation of the method by an international standardisation organization, please contact: <a href="mailto:Christina.CHRISTIA@ec.europa.eu">Christina.CHRISTIA@ec.europa.eu</a> </p></div>JRC Food Fraud Report - July 2023https://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/jrc-food-fraud-report-july-20232023-08-23T10:36:55.000Z2023-08-23T10:36:55.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12207542273,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12207542273,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="12207542273?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p>Thanks again to FAN member Bruno Sechet of Integralim (<a href="http://www.integralim.net/">www.integralim.net) </a>who has formatted the JRC monthly food fraud report as this pictorial infographic. </p>
<p>The original report, along with those from previous months, can be found <a href="https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/food-fraud-quality/monthly-food-fraud-summary-reports_en" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
<p>Remember that you can sign up on the JRC website to be notified when each report is published. </p></div>EC JRC Publishes evidence on food information – Origin labellinghttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/ec-jrc-publishes-evidence-on-food-information-origin-labelling2023-04-05T14:13:53.000Z2023-04-05T14:13:53.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11021365458,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="11021365458?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="359" height="193" />Labelling can help consumers make informed, healthy and sustainable food choices.</p>
<p>The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes the results of a scientific study related to food information to consumers on origin labelling.</p>
<p>The European Commission will use the findings of these studies as input for a proposal to <a href="https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/labelling-and-nutrition/food-information-consumers-legislation/proposal-revision-regulation-fic_en">revise the EU rules on the information provided to consumers as part of the EU’s ‘Farm-to-Fork’ Strategy</a> and <a class="ecl-link" href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_342">Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan</a>.</p>
<p>The scientists reviewed the literature on the impact of origin information of food products on purchase decisions and consumption. They looked into how and why consumers use, understand, and are influenced by origin information, coming to the following conclusions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Information about both country of origin and place or region of origin has a substantial influence on consumers’ food choices.</li>
<li>Consumers attach importance to origin information as:
<ol>
<li>a cue to good quality and environmentally friendly products;</li>
<li>on average they like to support their local or domestic farmers and food industry.</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Consumers report (in surveys) that they attach importance to origin information. However, when actually shopping, they may focus less on origin information than they would like to (because of time pressure, the attractiveness of brands etc.).</li>
</ul>
<p>Read the full report: <a class="ecl-link" href="https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC126893">Consumer understanding of origin labelling on food packaging and its impact on consumer product evaluation and choices: A systematic literature review.</a></p>
<p> </p></div>JRC Report: Fighting fraudulent and deceptive practices in the agri-food chainhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/jrc-report-fighting-fraudulent-and-deceptive-practices-in-the-agr2023-04-05T11:35:15.000Z2023-04-05T11:35:15.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11021298462,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="11021298462?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="276" height="391" /></p>
<p>This Technical Report presents challenges, opportunities and good practice examples in relation to the implementation of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on <strong>official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law</strong>, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.</p>
<p>Competent authorities of the Member States are required to not only detect violations of the rules governing the agri-food chain but also to identify possible intentional violations of those rules, perpetrated through fraudulent or deceptive practices by operators for the purpose of gaining an undue advantage.</p>
<p>Between 2020 and 2022 a series of pilot and fact-finding studies of eight Member States were carried out with the aim to identify good practice examples and challenges Member State authorities face with the implementation of fraud related controls. The results of these fact-finding studies form the basis of this report. The reports of the six fact findings studies have also been published: <br /> Sweden: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4421">https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4421</a><br /> Latvia: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4432">https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4432</a><br /> Poland: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4461">https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4461</a><br /> Germany: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4511">https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4511</a><br /> Portugal: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4561">https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4561</a><br /> Bulgaria: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4560">https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4560</a></p>
<p>The report states that as fraud is driven by opportunity and motivation, detecting fraud requires good knowledge about the sector, the fraud risks and the way fraudsters operate. </p>
<p>The report advocates a risk-based approach based on a vulnerability assessment. The best approach to risk-based planning will differ between authorities, control areas and Member States, but the risk-based planning should be based on a vulnerability assessment. A fraud risk assessment should be tailored to the control areas for which the competent authority is responsible. The report acknowledges that a <strong>one-size-fits-all solution across all sectors does not exist</strong> and provides key considerations for undertaking vulnerability assessments.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the use of mechanisms for the exchange of information between competent authorities on suspicions of fraudulent practices and criminal investigations (fraud part of <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_19_6711" target="_blank">iRASFF</a>, Secure Information Exchange Network Application - <a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/operations-services-and-innovation/services-support/information-exchange/secure-information-exchange-network-application-siena" target="_blank">SIENA</a>, etc.) is crucial.</p>
<p>The purpose of this technical report therefore is to promote the uniform interpretation and application of the provisions of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625</p>
<p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2760/31366">http://dx.doi.org/10.2760/31366</a></p></div>EC JRC Food Fraud Report August 2022https://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/ec-jrc-food-fraud-report-august-20222022-09-12T10:07:48.000Z2022-09-12T10:07:48.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10809158253,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10809158253,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10809158253?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p>JRC has published its monthly summary on articles covering food fraud and adulteration. In this issue, there are articles on frauds involving:</p>
<ul>
<li>olive oil</li>
<li>molasses and sugar</li>
<li>fruits, vegetables</li>
<li>soy, seafood</li>
<li>meat</li>
<li>alcoholic beverages and wine</li>
<li>cereals</li>
<li>milk</li>
<li>cheese</li>
<li>tea</li>
<li>sauces</li>
<li>fruit juices.</li>
</ul>
<p>Read the full summary at: <a href="https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/food-fraud-summary-august-2022_en" target="_blank">August 2022 JRC Food Fraud Summary</a></p>
<p> </p>
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<div class="entry-tags ux-entry-tags pull-left"><em class="icon icon-tag" title="Tags:">Tags:</em> <a href="https://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/list/tag/ec+jrc">ec jrc</a>, <a href="https://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/list/tag/food+fraud+summary">food fraud su</a></div>
</div></div>JRC Food Fraud Summary November 2021https://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/jrc-food-fraud-summary-november-20212021-12-03T11:47:34.000Z2021-12-03T11:47:34.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9875868867,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9875868867,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="9875868867?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p>The European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC) has published its monthly summary on articles covering food fraud and adulteration. In this November issue, there are articles on frauds involving wine, alcoholic beverages, milk and milk products, herbs and spices, cereals, meat products, seafood, cocoa, tea, fruits and vegetables, oils and honey.</p>
<p>Read the full summary of articles at: <a href="https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/food-fraud-summary-november-2021_en">https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/food-fraud-summary-november-2021_en</a></p>
<p>Many thanks to our Members Riccardo Siligato PhD LLM (for producing the report) and Bruno Sechet (for producing the infographic).</p></div>Enhancing science–policy interfaces for food systems transformationhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/enhancing-science-policy-interfaces-for-food-systems-transformati2021-11-25T15:58:27.000Z2021-11-25T15:58:27.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9850054881,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9850054881,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="358" height="357" alt="9850054881?profile=original" /></a>The anticipated failure of many countries to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 necessitates the assessment of science–policy engagement mechanisms for food systems transformation. </p>
<p>A High Level Expert Group (EG) of the European Commission explore options for enhancing existing partnerships, mandates and resources — or reimagining a new mission — for science–policy interfaces in this paper.</p>
<p>The science policy interfaces (SPI) options presented in this paper provide a potential framework to promote consensus around ways to achieve independent scientific interaction with policy needs at different scales. Establishing more effective food systems SPIs will require financial and political capital and time-defined dialogues that go beyond cooperation among existing SPIs to include other actors (including national and regional governments, the private sector and NGOs). These dialogues should be shaped by openness, inclusivity, transparency, scientific independence and institutional legitimacy.</p>
<p>The UN Food Systems Summit held in September 2021 provided some space for this discussion, which should be furthered during the UN Climate Change Conference in the UK (COP26) and Nutrition for Growth in Tokyo. The global community must seize on this historic moment to formulate commitments that enhance SPIs and that concretely help them to support the urgently needed transformation of our food systems.</p>
<p>Read <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00406-6" target="_blank">full paper</a>.</p></div>JRC's May 2021 Food Fraud Summary Publishedhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/jrc-s-may-2021-food-fraud-summary-published2021-06-07T17:20:05.000Z2021-06-07T17:20:05.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9051744679?profile=RESIZE_180x180" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9051744679?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="454" height="454" alt="9051744679?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a></p>
<p>The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published its May 2021 Food Fraud Monthly Summary reporting food fraud incidents and investigations from around the world.</p>
<p>Food fraud cases reported in May:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honey</li>
<li>Royal jelly</li>
<li>Herbs</li>
<li>Spices</li>
<li>Fish</li>
<li>Fish products</li>
<li>Bivalve molluscs and products thereof</li>
<li>Fats</li>
<li>Oils</li>
<li>Meat</li>
<li>Meat products</li>
<li>Alcoholic beverages</li>
<li>Fish</li>
<li>Fish products</li>
<li>Fruit</li>
<li>Vegetables, and other.</li>
</ul>
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<p>Thanks again to our Member <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunosechet/" target="_blank">Bruno Séchet</a> for creating this infographic and allowing us to share it with the rest of the Network.</p>
<p>You can download the April 2021 Summary <a href="https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/food-fraud-summary-may-2021_en" target="_blank">here</a></p>
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<p> </p></div>JRC Monthly Food Fraud Summary for November 2020 is publishedhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/jrc-monthly-food-fraud-summary-for-november-2020-is-published2020-12-19T00:12:40.000Z2020-12-19T00:12:40.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8305361472?profile=RESIZE_1200x" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8305361472?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="8305361472?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></p>
<p>The Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission has published its Monthly Food Fraud Summary for November 2020.</p>
<p>Thanks again to our Member <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunosechet/" target="_blank">Bruno Séchet</a> for creating this fantastic infographic and allowing us to share with the rest of the Network 😁.</p>
<p>Access JRC Monthly Food Fraud <a href="https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/food-fraud-summary-november-2020_en" target="_blank">Reports</a>. </p></div>EFSA assessment concludes genome editing techniques that modify the DNA of plants do not pose more hazards than conventional breeding or techniques that introduce new DNA into a planthttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/efsa-assessment-concludes-genome-editing-techniques-that-modify-t2020-11-27T14:35:54.000Z2020-11-27T14:35:54.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><img class="align-center" src="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/news_individual_node_image/public/news/shutterstock_660238918.jpg?itok=dJ7m_Fud" alt="shutterstock_660238918.jpg?itok=dJ7m_Fud" /></p>
<p>Genome editing techniques that modify the DNA of plants do not pose more hazards than conventional breeding or techniques that introduce new DNA into a plant, an <a href="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/6299">EFSA assessment</a> concludes.</p>
<p>The scientific opinion focuses on plants produced using different genome editing techniques: site-directed nuclease-1 (SDN-1), site-directed nuclease-2 techniques (SDN-2) and oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis (ODM). These differ from <a href="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2943">site-directed nucleases-3 (SDN-3)</a>, which was assessed by EFSA in 2012, because they modify a specific region of the genome without introducing new DNA.</p>
<p>Experts concluded that the existing guidance for risk assessment of genetically modified plants is applicable for the evaluation of the three new techniques. However, fewer data for the risk assessment might be needed due to the absence of new DNA.</p>
<p>Read <a href="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/existing-guidance-appropriate-assessment-genome-editing-plants" target="_blank">full article</a>.</p></div>European Council has adopted conclusions on further steps to improve ways of tackling and deterring fraudulent practices in the agro-food chainhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/european-council-has-adopted-conclusions-on-further-steps-to-impr2020-02-12T13:51:54.000Z2020-02-12T13:51:54.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p>The European Council has adopted conclusions on further steps to improve ways of tackling and deterring <strong>fraudulent practices in the agro-food chain</strong>.</p>
<p>In its conclusions the Council recalls that a <strong>high level of protection</strong> is an overall objective of EU policies concerning health, safety, environmental protection and consumer protection, and recognises that the <strong>current EU legal framework</strong> on tackling food fraud is <strong>adequate</strong>.</p>
<p>The Council nonetheless emphasises the need for <strong>continuous</strong> and <strong>improved</strong> <strong>cross-sectorial cooperation</strong> to fight against food fraud. This cooperation should include not only food and feed control authorities, but also authorities involved in the fight against financial crime and tax, customs, police, prosecution and other law enforcement authorities. In relation to this, the Council calls upon the Commission and member states to <strong>allocate adequate resources</strong> to ensure <strong>effective implementation</strong> of existing EU legislation by improving the shared understanding of the criteria determining food fraud.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3859201797?profile=RESIZE_710x" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3859201797?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="351" alt="3859201797?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a>The Council also stresses the need to promote <strong>awareness-raising</strong> among consumers and to continue to broaden <strong>training</strong> on countering food-fraud.</p>
<p>Read text of conclusions.<a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/41865/st15154-en19.pdf" target="_blank">text of conclusions</a></p></div>Fight against food fraud: 45 tons of illegally treated tuna seized in Spainhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/fight-against-food-fraud-45-tons-of-illegally-treated-tuna-seized2018-08-21T12:03:15.000Z2018-08-21T12:03:15.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73941366?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73941366?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a>On 11 August, the environmental protection service of the Spanish civil guard SEPRONA announced the seizure of 45 tons of illegally treated tuna fish. Four people were investigated and face possible criminal penalties of up to four years in prison for endangering public health, as well as administrative sanctions. The investigation has so far uncovered three companies and three fishing vessels involved in the fraudulent scheme.</p>
<p>Investigators found that frozen tuna only suitable for canning had been illegally treated with substances that enhance the colour and then been diverted to the market to be sold as fresh fish. This treatment can pose a serious public health risk associated with allergic reactions to histamine.</p>
<p>The investigation was coordinated by EUROPOL under the OPSON VII operation, in collaboration with the European Commission and other Member States, which was <a href="http://www.foodauthenticity.uk/blog/europol-s-opson-vii-takes-36-000-tonnes-of-food-off-the-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously reported on the Food Authenticity Network in May 2018</a>.</p>
<p>Criminal investigations are ongoing.</p>
<p><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/food-fraud/successful-stories_en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For more information on this case including the European Commission's contribution and information on other successful outcomes for EU coordinated cases.</a></p>
</div>156 Food Fraud Cases Reported in 2016 by the EU Food Fraud Networkhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/156-food-fraud-cases-reported-in-2016-by-the-eu-food-fraud-networ2017-06-01T13:06:22.000Z2017-06-01T13:06:22.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><font size="3">EU Food Fraud Network has published its report for 2016 which shows that 156 food fraud cases were dealt with (147 food & 9 feed). Of these, the top five commodities that fraud was observed in were:</font></p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Meat & meat products (excluding poultry)</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Fish & fish products</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Fats & oils</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Poultry meat & poultry meat products</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Milk & milk products</span></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><b><font size="3"> </font></b><font size="3">M</font><font size="3">islabelling composition was, <font size="3">by far,</font> the largest violation observed.</font></p>
<p><font size="3"><font size="3">Read the full</font> <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/food-fraud_network_activity_report_2016.pdf"><font color="#0000FF" size="3">report</font></a> <font size="3">by the European Commission.</font></font></p>
<p><b><font size="3">The EU Food Fraud Network</font></b></p>
<p><font size="3">As provided for in Title IV of Regulation (EC) N° 882/2004, where the outcome of official controls on food and feed requires action in more than one Member State, competent authorities in the Member States concerned shall provide each other with administrative assistance. Upon receiving a reasoned request, the requested competent authorities shall ensure that the requesting competent authority is provided with all the necessary information and documents enabling the latter to verify compliance with feed and food law within its jurisdiction. An administrative assistance may also end up with two or more competent authorities participating in a joint inspection.</font></p>
<p><font size="3">Liaison bodies are at the very core of the mechanism of administrative assistance. These are designated within a Member State to assist and coordinate communication between competent authorities. The role of liaison bodies is essential for the good functioning of administrative assistance, as each liaison body has the exact understanding of how competences are shared within its Member State, thus allowing the information to swiftly reach its destination.</font></p>
<p><font size="3">Empowering liaison bodies with a dedicated tool soon became a necessity. At the beginning, information exchange was carried out through conventional means such as letters, emails and phone calls. However, the horsemeat scandal of 2013 proved the need for a streamlined method of communication. The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed was the only viable tool for these exchanges, however the horsemeat crisis did not show any profiles of public health risks, thus falling outside the scope of that system. In response to that crisis, the <b>EU Food Fraud Network</b></font> <font size="3">was set up with the aim of allowing the EU countries to work in accordance with the rules laid down in Articles 36-40 of the Official Controls Regulation (Regulation 882/2004, rules on administrative cooperation and assistance) in matters where the national authorities are confronted with possible intentional violations of food chain law with a cross-border impact.</font></p>
<p><font size="3">The EU Food Fraud Network consists of contact points in the EU Member States, in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and the Commission. The contact points of the EU Food Fraud Network are representatives of the authorities designated by each Member State for the purpose of ensuring cross-border administrative cooperation with their counterparts in the other Member States in matters of suspected intentional and economically motivated violations.</font></p>
<p></p>
</div>European Commission's Food Fraud Network Activity Report 2015https://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/european-commission-s-food-fraud-network-activity-report-20152016-03-01T10:25:42.000Z2016-03-01T10:25:42.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p><strong>Strengthening administrative assistance and cooperation across borders: the Network of Food Fraud Contact Points</strong> </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In accordance with Articles 34 to 40 of <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32004R0882" target="_blank">Regulation (EC) No 882/2004</a> EU Member States must cooperate with one another to ensure <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/official_controls/related_obligations/administrative_measures/index_en.htm">enforcement of food law across borders</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The horsemeat scandal showed that one of the weaknesses of the current system of enforcement along the food chain was the difficulty for Member States’ competent authorities to <strong>communicate efficiently</strong> with their counterparts in other Member States for the purposes of ensuring enforcement in cases of violations having cross-border impact.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Commission decided therefore to activate a <strong>dedicated network of administrative assistance liaison bodies</strong> that would handle specific requests for cross-border cooperation in cases of “food fraud”. The dedicated liaison bodies are referred to as <strong>“Food Fraud Contact Points” (FFCP).</strong> They act, as all administrative assistance liaison bodies, within the legal framework provided in Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004. The group of FFCPs is collectively referred to as the <strong>“Food Fraud Network”</strong> or <strong>FFN</strong>.</p>
<p>The FFN helps to improve the capability of competent authorities to:</p>
<ul>
<li>detect and prevent violations of food chain rules, also across borders and in potential cases of “food fraud”;</li>
<li>collect the information which is needed (in accordance with applicable national rules) to further refer a case to investigation/ prosecution.</li>
</ul>
<p>Read the European Commission's <a href="http://food.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2020-05/ff_ffn_annual-report_2015.pdf" target="_blank">Food Fraud Network Activity Report 2015.</a></p>
<p> </p></div>JRC provides support in the fight against food fraudhttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/blog/jrc-provides-support-in-the-fight-against-food-fraud2016-02-29T15:42:25.000Z2016-02-29T15:42:25.000ZSelvarani Elahihttps://www.foodauthenticity.global/members/SelvaraniElahi869<div><p>The JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE (JRC (the European Commission's in-house science service)) supported DG SANTE (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety) in the organisation of coordinated EU monitoring plans to assess the authenticity of fish and honey purchased in the European Union. The outcome of the study confirms the need for further testing and control.</p>
<p>Prevention of fraud in the agri-food chain and promotion of authentic products is a major element to ensure the commercial success of European high-value agri-food products on the internal and international markets. Fraudulent activities such as mis-description of food or extension of genuine products with cheaper substitutes will negatively impact on consumer's trust and the competitiveness and profitability of honest producers in the EU.<br />
In this respect, DG SANTE - with the scientific support of the JRC-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) – organised coordinated control plans across the EU Member States to detect fraud in the fish and honey markets.<br />
 <br />
Member states' laboratories analysed nearly 4000 samples of white fish and 2200 samples of honey. The JRC-IRMM supplied them with information regarding testing methodology to detect mislabelling of fish species and also provided quality control samples for fish analysis. The monitoring study revealed that 6 % of the tested fish samples did not conform to the labelled species. Preliminary results are now also available for the tested honey samples: in total, 19 % did not comply with the marketing standard for honey. Approximately half of the samples already analysed in the Member States are currently re-analysed by the JRC-IRMM  by using isotopic ratio mass spectrometry to detect the potential addition of certain sugar syrups to honey, which cannot be detected by conventional methods of analysis. The end results of the coordinated control plan for honey will be available before summer 2016.</p>
<p><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/official_controls/food_fraud/index_en.htm" target="_blank">More information is available</a></p>
</div>