(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 (2) establishes maximum levels for cadmium in a range of foodstuffs.

(2)

The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted an opinion on cadmium in food on 30 January 2009 (3). In that opinion, EFSA established a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 2,5 μg/kg body weight for cadmium. In its ‘Statement on tolerable weekly intake for cadmium’ (4), EFSA took into account the recent risk assessment carried out by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) (5) and confirmed the TWI of 2,5 μg/kg body weight.

(3)

In the scientific opinion on cadmium in food, the CONTAM Panel concluded that the mean dietary exposures to cadmium in European countries are close to or slightly exceeding the TWI of 2,5 μg/kg body weight. Certain subgroups of the population may exceed the TWI by about 2 fold. The CONTAM Panel further concluded that, although adverse effects on kidney function are unlikely to occur for an individual exposed at this level, exposure to cadmium at the population level should be reduced.

(4)

According to the scientific opinion on cadmium in food of the CONTAM Panel, the food groups that contribute to the major part of the dietary cadmium exposure, primarily because of the high consumption, are cereals and cereals products, vegetables, nuts and pulses, starchy roots or potatoes and meat and meat products. Highest cadmium concentrations were detected in the food commodities seaweed, fish and seafood, chocolate and foods for special dietary uses as well as in fungi, oilseeds and edible offal.

(5)

In a refined exposure assessment carried out by EFSA in its scientific report on ‘Cadmium dietary exposure in the European population’ (6) using the new Comprehensive Food Consumption database which contains updated information on food consumption figures for the different Member States and for different age groups of the population, more detailed information on the particular food commodities that contribute to exposure are given by age group. For adults, starchy roots and tubers, grains and grain based products and vegetables and vegetable products are major contributors to exposure. For children and adolescents, starchy roots and tubers, grain and grain based products and sugar and confectionary are main contributors to exposure, while for infants and toddlers it is starchy roots and tubers, grains and grain based products, vegetables and vegetable based products, milk and dairy products and foods for infants and small children that contribute most. The refined exposure assessment shows that overall exposure is the result of not only a few main contributors but the addition of contributions of a number of different food groups.

(6)

Maximum levels have been established for cadmium in a wide range of foodstuffs, including cereals, vegetables, meat, fish, seafood, offals and food supplements. For some foodstuffs that are important contributors to the exposure for certain population groups (chocolate and cocoa products, foods for infants and young children) maximum levels have not yet been established. It is therefore necessary to establish maximum levels of cadmium for those foodstuffs.

(7)

Maximum levels for contaminants are set according to the ALARA principle (‘as low as reasonably achievable’) both for commodities for which maximum levels for cadmium currently already exist (such as vegetables, meat, fish, seafood, offals and food supplements) and for commodities for which maximum levels are newly set (such as cocoa and chocolate products) using occurrence data and food consumption patterns of the European Union citizen.

(8)

Chocolate and cocoa powder sold to the final consumer can contain high levels of cadmium and are an important source of human exposure. They are frequently consumed by children, e.g. chocolate as such or as sweetened cocoa powders used in cocoa beverages. When establishing maximum levels of cadmium, occurrence data for different types of chocolates and for cocoa powders sold to the final consumer should be considered. Since cadmium levels in cocoa products are related to their cocoa content, it is appropriate to establish different maximum levels of cadmium for products containing different percentages of cocoa. This should ensure that the maximum levels may also be complied with by chocolates with a higher percentage of cocoa.

(9)

In some regions of cocoa producing countries, cadmium levels in soil can be naturally high. Therefore, occurrence data of cocoa and chocolate products provided by countries with high cadmium levels in soil should be taken into account when establishing maximum levels of cadmium.

(10)

Infant formulae and follow-on formulae contribute significantly to cadmium exposure of infants and young children. Infant formulae and follow-on formulae manufactured from soya protein isolates, alone or in a mixture with cows' milk proteins, can contain higher cadmium levels than milk based products since soya beans naturally take up cadmium from the soil. Soya based formulae are an important alternative for infants suffering from lactose intolerance, therefore sufficient market supply must be ensured. It is therefore appropriate to set a higher maximum level for soya based products.

(11)

Processed cereal based foods and other baby foods for infants and young children are an important source of exposure to cadmium for infants and young children. A particular maximum level of cadmium should therefore be established for processed cereal based and other baby foods.

(12)

Reduced exposure of a very vulnerable group of consumers could be achieved by the establishment of a maximum level for certain categories of food for particular nutritional uses (e.g. food for special medical purposes for infants). However, in absence of data to substantiate such a maximum level, occurrence data should be collected in view of the possible establishment of a specific maximum level in the future.

(13)

For certain specific vegetables (salsify, parsnips, celery, horseradish), compliance with current maximum levels is difficult and occurrence data provided by the Member States show that natural background levels are higher and comparable with those of celeriac. Since consumption of those commodities is low and effects on human exposure are negligible, it is appropriate to raise the maximum levels of cadmium for parsnips, salsify, celery and horseradish to that of celeriac.

(14)

Certain fish species are currently exempted from the default maximum level for fish of 0,05 mg/kg. For the fish species bonito (Sarda sarda), common two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris), eel (Anguilla anguilla), grey mullet (Mugil labrosus labrosus), horse mackerel (Trachurus species), louvar (Luvarus imperialis), sardinops (Sardinops species) and wedge sole (Dicologoglossa cuneata) new occurrence data show that the exemption is no longer necessary and that the default maximum level can be complied with following good fishery practices. Specific maximum levels are therefore no longer necessary for those fish species.

(15)

For bullet tuna (Auxis species), anchovy (Engraulis species) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius), new occurrence data show a lower maximum level can be complied with following good fishery practices. The maximum levels for those fish species should therefore be adjusted.

(16)

For sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and bichique (Sicyopterus lagocephalus), occurrence data show that compliance with the existing maximum levels is difficult, as natural background levels can be higher. For both fish species, the consumption is low and has negligible effects on human exposure. It is therefore appropriate to set higher maximum levels for those two fish species to ensure market supply.

(17)

Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(18)

Member States and food business operators should be allowed time to adapt to the new maximum levels established by this Regulation for cocoa products and foods for infants and young children. The date of application of the maximum levels of cadmium for those commodities should therefore be deferred.

(19)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,