Parliamentary question - E-003544/2023(ASW)Parliamentary question
E-003544/2023(ASW)

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Measures to reduce the presence of acrylamide in food have been established by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158[1] which entered into application on 11 April 2018.

In 2019, the Commission adopted Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/1888[2] on the monitoring of the presence of acrylamide mainly in foods which are not in the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/2158. No other measures as regards the presence of acrylamide in food have been adopted since 2019.

It is important that business operators take measures to reduce the presence of acrylamide, a genotoxic carcinogen, in all foods where acrylamide is present, to ensure a high level of human health protection.

Benchmark levels have been established by Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 taking into account in particular the achievability of these levels, also in regional products, by applying good practices to minimise the presence of acrylamide in food.

Recital 10 of this regulation clearly mentions that benchmark levels are performance indicators to be used to verify the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.

For specific foods within a broad food category for which it is not possible to achieve the benchmark levels despite the application of all mitigation measures, due to specific production, geographic or seasonal conditions or product characteristics, the food business operator should be able to show the evidence that it applied the relevant mitigation measures.

As the food business operator, compliant with these measures, may continue to produce and place on the market the specific food, there is no need to grant an exemption. Setting more specific benchmarks for particular products can be considered if duly justified.

Last updated: 7 February 2024
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