EFSA is conducting pan‐European dietary exposure and risk assessments related to actual levels of pesticide residues in food commodities. These assessments use the pesticide occurrence data generated under the official monitoring programs of Member States, the consumption data from EFSA's comprehensive food consumption database and pesticide‐specific information such as processing factors. Currently no harmonised list of processing factors is available within Europe and worldwide. The overall objective of this project is to develop a database of validated processing factors, which is compatible with the EFSA food classification and description system FoodEx 2. In the first part of the project, a compendium of representative processing techniques was elaborated which serves as a standard description of all relevant processes and as a basis for validation of processing studies. In the second part of the project all relevant processes and raw and processed commodities were coded according to FoodEx2. In the third and last part of the project all processing studies used by EFSA in their Conclusions and Reasoned Opinions issued until 30/06/2016 were re‐evaluated according to uniform quality criteria and reported in a database. The database is provided as a flat Excel spreadsheet. Information on processing conditions, on analytical methods, storage stability and GLP was collected from the studies and was used to judge the acceptability of each processing study. The representativeness of the processing conditions applied in the studies was judged by comparing them to the compendium of representative processing techniques. Processing factors (PF) were derived from the studies according to comprehensible calculation rules and based on the residue definitions for monitoring. The individual PF were judged for their acceptability. For each commodity/process/active substance combination a median PF was calculated from the individual ones, based on the trials from one or more studies. The database is a ready‐to‐use inventory of PF for pesticides in a variety of processed food items. In a pilot project a second database was set up with processing factors based on the residue definition for dietary risk assessment. Extension of this database is recommended.
EFSA is conducting pan‐European dietary exposure and risk assessments related to actual levels of pesticide residues in food commodities. These assessments use the pesticide occurrence data generated under the official monitoring programs of Member States, the consumption data from EFSA's comprehensive food consumption database and pesticide‐specific information such as processing factors. Currently no harmonised list of processing factors is available within Europe and worldwide. The overall objective of this project is to develop a database of validated processing factors based on the residue definitions for enforcement, which is compatible with the EFSA food classification and description system FoodEx 2. In the first part of the project, a compendium of representative processing techniques is elaborated as a standard description of all relevant processes and basis for validation of processing studies. The compendium of processing techniques is built upon a selection of representative and up‐to‐date processing studies submitted in the context of regulatory procedures for plant protection products. It covers the most important processes in food processing, both with respect to importance in consumption and production. Though not really considered as processing operations, peeling and pitting procedures are included in this compendium. For each process, a typical set of processing conditions is provided based on published literature and/or inquiry in the food processing industry. Detailed descriptions of processing conditions and yield factors for the processes are given. The processes are visualised in flowcharts. Processing studies are conducted on a very limited number of representative commodities. Extrapolation proposals are made based on the comparability of processing conditions, the plant anatomy and the plant part to be processed.
In the framework of the project ‘Database of processing techniques and processing factors compatible with the EFSA food classification and description system FoodEx2’ a compendium of representative processing techniques was prepared as a result of Objective 1. In Objective 2 the food / feed items and processes as described in the compendium of Objective 1 were coded using the FoodEx2 coding system. The coding covers the raw agricultural commodities and the food / feed items obtained after processing. Additionally a key facet was added in order to be able to link food and feed items to the EFSA RAC (Raw Agricultural Commodity)‐model. The RAC‐model links the food items as coded in the consumption data to raw agricultural commodities. Food items in this model are also coded using the FoodEx2 coding system. The sources used to code the foods, feeds and processes are described, as well as the coding decisions.
Plant protection products (PPPs) are pesticides containing at least one active substance that drives specific actions against pests (diseases). PPPs are regulated in the EU and cannot be placed on the market or used without prior authorisation. EFSA assesses the possible risks of the use of active substances to humans and environment. Member States decide whether or not to approve their use at EU level. Furthermore, Member States decide at national level on the authorisation of PPPs containing approved substances. In agriculture, exposure to PPPs and their residues during occupational tasks is estimated prior to product authorisation, using models fed with study‐specific (e.g. absorption, dissipation) and default values. Exposure of workers to pesticide residues reduces with the pesticide's dissipation time during crop‐related tasks. However, the current risk assessment gap is that no methodology is available to calculate the re‐entry interval (REI) for workers, which specifies how long they should wear personal protective clothing during their first entry into pesticide‐sprayed crops. Protective clothing (such as gloves) can reduce pesticide residue exposure to an acceptable level of worker safety. Within the European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship Programme (EU‐FORA) assignment, a methodology was developed to calculate agricultural‐use‐specific and pesticide‐specific REIs for which period workers should wear gloves. This was an assignment of the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Another important aspect of risk assessment to ensure consumer safety is dietary risk assessment. A critical evaluation of residue studies and metabolism of the pesticide in question in crops results in a residue definition for dietary risk assessment and for enforcement and monitoring to define maximum residue limits allowed legally on or in raw agricultural commodities when applying pesticides according to good agricultural practices. This work was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and contributes to the work of the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.