Rapid alert system for food and feed - week 27

RAPID ALERT SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND FEED
The current legal basis of the system is Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the generalprinciples and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority andlaying down procedures in matters of food safety (O.J. No L 31 of 1 February 2002). Thepurpose of the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) is to provide the control authoritieswith an effective tool for exchange of information on measures taken to ensure food safety.
To assist the members of the network, information is classified under two different headings : · ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Alert notifications are sent when the food or feed presenting the risk is on the market andwhen immediate action is required. Alerts are triggered by the Member State that detectsthe problem and has initiated the relevant measures, such as withdrawal/recall. Thenotification aims at giving all the members of the network the information to verifywhether the concerned product is on their market, so that they also can take the necessarymeasures.
Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an alert notification have been
withdrawn or are in the process of being withdrawn from the market. The Member
States have their own mechanisms to carry out such actions, including the provision of
detailed information through the media if necessary.
· INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Information notifications concern a food or feed for which a risk has been identified, butfor which the other members of the network do not have to take immediate action, becausethe product has not reached their market. These notifications mostly concern food and feedconsignments that have been tested and rejected at the external borders of the EU.
Consumers can be reassured that products subject to an information notification
have not reached the market or that all necessary measures have already been taken.
The Commission is now publishing a weekly overview of alert and information notifications. Indoing so, it is necessary to strike the balance between openness and protection of commercialinformation. Therefore trade names and the identity of individual companies are not published.
This way of proceeding is not detrimental to consumer protection, as a RASFF notificationimplies that measures have been or are in the process of being taken. The public must be awarethat the Commission is not in a position to give more information than what is published here.
However, in circumstances where the protection of human health requires greater transparency,the Commission takes the necessary actions through its usual communication channels.
WEEK 2003/27
TABLE 1: ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.
NOTIFIED
PRODUCT:
REASON FOR
COUNTRY OF
NOTIFYING:
TABLE 2: INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications in blue typeface concern feed, all other notifications concern food.
NOTIFIED BY:
PRODUCT:
REASON FOR
COUNTRY OF
NOTIFYING:

Source: http://www.megapesca.com/megashop/FH200307_btk/Rapid%20Alert%20Week%2027.pdf