Parliamentary question - E-005257/2018(ASW)Parliamentary question
E-005257/2018(ASW)
European Parliament

Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the European Commission

7.12.2018

Written question

Regulations 178/2002[1] and 882/2004[2] provide the main tools to achieve the objective that food imported complies with EU safety standards. Furthermore, the Commission has established a list of food of non-animal origin which, on the basis of known or emerging risks, requires increased controls prior to their introduction into the EU. The list appears in Regulation 669/2009[3] and is regularly reviewed. More stringent measures are adopted when required. The responsibility for enforcing these rules lies with the Member States.

In addition to controls in place under these measures, Member States carry out controls on food to ensure compliance with maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticide residues, in line with Regulation 396/2005[4]. These controls are performed under an EU multiannual control programme (MACP) and under multiannual national programmes (NPs), which target imported and domestically produced food. As the commodities in the EU MACP constitute only the major components of the diet in the EU, garlic is not included in this program. The risk-based selection of foods and pesticides to be analysed under their NPs falls under the competence of Member States.

Recent data resulting from the notifications received through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed does not confirm the existence of repeated risks related to the presence of pesticide residues or other contaminants in garlic from China.

Therefore, in the absence of appropriate evidence, restrictive food safety measures targeting specifically garlic from China would not be justified.

Last updated: 7 December 2018
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