High levels of mycotoxins in grain this year (Arable, 28 September) and proposed new legislation mean 2007 could be a wakeup call to many in the industry about the increasing importance of this problem.
That was the clear message from speakers at a cereal mycotoxins conference in Peterborough last week.
European discussions were already under way, looking at setting a maximum limit for the HT2 and T2 mycotoxins, Simon Edwards from Harper Adams explained.
"It was hoped to get a legal limit in place by July 2008, but the proposed limits weren't even discussed until this month, so I'm not very optimistic this will happen."
Oat growers would potentially be hardest hit by any new limit, he said. No details had yet been agreed, but a limit of 500ppb in unprocessed oats had been discussed and analysis of oat samples by Harper Adams found that nearly 30% would fail this proposed limit.
"90-95% of HT2 and T2 mycotoxin is on the hull, so the limits aren't a problem for processed oats. But EC legislation sets limits for unprocessed cereals, on the assumption that we should not rely on processing to make grain safe."
But he, and other speakers, called for the EC to take note of the fact that a large proportion of mycotoxins in raw oats were lost during processing and to set limits accordingly. "HT2 and T2 will potentially become a big issue for oat growers if we have the 500ppb limit."
Levels of HT2 and T2 were generally not a concern in UK wheat or barley, but in France high levels had been detected in barley, Dr Edwards noted. "These diseases are constantly changing, so we need to keep monitoring them. UK barley varieties are inherently more resistant to fusarium, but there is some indication that HT2 and T2 levels may have increased over the past two years."
Dr Edwards said that the setting of limits on HT2 and T2 mycotoxins was the next step by European ministers to address a number of potential food safety issues and he believed tighter limits on ergot could be next on the hit list.
| Mycotoxin rules |
Existing legislation - New limits for DON and zearalenone mycotoxins introduced in July 2006
- Apply to unprocessed cereals for human consumption
- Max DON level of 1250ppb
- Zearalenone level of 100ppb
- No limit of HT2 and T2 at present
- Rapid tests available for DON - cost typically £10-£15 a test
New legislation - Proposed legal limit on HT2 and T2 mycotoxins in cereals
- Potential problem for oats
- Limits need to account for effect of processing
- Timetabled introduction of new limit by July 2008
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| Certification Standard |
| A new certification standard which brings together all aspects of controlling mycotoxins throughout the production process was launched at last week's event. The certificate - a joint initiative between Cert ID, CCFRA and Bayer CropScience - could be incorporated into existing on-farm assurance inspections and would provide end-users with confidence that crops had been produced in a way that minimised mycotoxin risk, Cert ID's Richard Werran said. The certification standard covered a number of risk factors, including seed selection and treatment, soil protection, crop monitoring, harvesting, plus grain storage and drying. "It will not mean another audit - we are working with existing auditors and certification bodies, who will have an additional checklist." Genesis QA had already signed up to the standard, which would cost farmers £10-£12 a year, he said. But the NFU's Guy Gagen said there was little need for another quality assurance scheme and many of the aspects covered were already included in some existing assurance protocols. "I don't think it'll add anything to those who are FABBL or ACCS registered, although it might be worth considering if you're with Genesis." Paul Davies, who chaired the conference, shared a similar view. "The introduction of a mycotoxin standard is an interesting initiative, but farmers are already being hammered enough by audits and certification schemes which are adding a lot of cost and stress. These should be rationalised so we're only inspected as little as possible, by just one organisation." See www.mycotoxin-certification.eu |