(1)

Commission Recommendation 2002/201/EC of 4 March 2002 on the reduction of the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in feedingstuffs and foodstuffs (1) is a part of an overall strategy to reduce the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in environment, feed and food. Its purpose is to recommend action levels and, over-time, target levels for feed and food.

(2)

Although, from a toxicological point of view, any level should apply to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, maximum levels in foodstuffs were in 2001 set only for dioxins and not for dioxin-like PCBs by Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (2) given the very limited data available at that moment on the prevalence of the dioxin-like PCBs. Similarly, maximum levels in feedingstuffs were in 2001 set only for dioxins and not for dioxin-like PCBs by Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed (3).

(3)

According to Regulation (EC) No 466/2001, the Commission should review the provisions as regards dioxins in food for the first time by the end of 2004 in the light of new data on the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, in particular with a view to the inclusion of dioxin-like PCBs in the levels to be set. Directive 2002/32/EC contains a similar review clause as regards dioxins in feedingstuffs.

(4)

In the meantime more data on the presence of dioxin-like PCBs in feed and food have been made available. As a consequence, maximum levels have been set for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs expressed in World Health Organisation (WHO) toxic equivalents, using the WHO-TEFs as this is the most appropriate approach from a toxicological point. In order to ensure a smooth transition, existing maximum levels for dioxins should remain applicable for a transitional period in addition to the newly set levels for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.

(5)

Action levels for dioxins have been set by Recommendation 2002/201/EC in order to stimulate a pro-active approach to reduce the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in food and feed. These action levels are a tool for competent authorities and operators to highlight those cases where it is appropriate to identify a source of contamination and to take measures for its reduction or elimination. Given the sources of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are different, it is appropriate that separate action levels are determined for dioxins on the one hand and for dioxin-like PCBs on the other hand. It is therefore appropriate to replace Recommendation 2002/201/EC.

(6)

Furthermore, the action levels should be periodically adjusted in line with the downward trend in dioxin and dioxin-like PCB presence and the active approach pursued to gradually reduce their presence in feedingstuffs and foodstuffs.

(7)

Directive 2002/32/EC provides for the possibility to set action levels. It is therefore appropriate to transfer the action levels for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feedingstuffs to Directive 2002/32/EC.

(8)

The target levels indicate the contamination levels to be achieved in feed and food in order to ultimately bring human exposure for the majority of the population of the Community down to the TWI for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs set by the Scientific Committee for Food (SCF). They should be set in the light of more accurate information on the impact of environmental measures and the source directed measures at the level of feed and food on the reduction of the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in the different feed materials, feedingstuffs and foodstuffs. Given that the determination of these target levels involves the consideration of many different factors, the setting of these target levels should be postponed to the end of 2008,