§ Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum level of aflatoxin permitted in food intended for human consumption and in animal feeding stuffs; and what checks are made to ensure that these are not exceeded both in the case of home produced and imported products.
§ Mr. StrangAflatoxin is found mainly on oilseed and is produced in tropical or 95W semi-tropical conditions by the fungus Aspergillus flavus. Any contamination of food for human consumption would be a breach of the Food and Drugs Acts. Enforcement is the responsibility of local authorities. Control of imported food is undertaken by the sea and air port health authorities in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Security under the Imported Food Regulations 1968. Susceptible commodities are screened by users as a routine.
Maximum permitted levels of aflatoxin in animal feeding stuffs are prescribed in the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs (Amendment) Regulations 1976 (S.I., 1976, No. 840). The levels which have been prescribed in EEC Directive 74/63/EEC are as follows:
Maximum content in mg/kg of the feeding stuff as found Straight feeding stuffs 0.05 Whole feeding stuffs for cattle, sheep and goats (except dairy cattle, calves, lambs and kids) 0.05 Whole feeding stuffs for pigs and poultry (except piglets and chicks) 0.02 Other whole feeding stuffs 0.01 Complementary feedings stuffs 0.02 Methods of sampling and analysis are prescribed in the regulations which are the responsibility of the local authorities and the Health Authority of the Port of London.