RAPID ALERT SYSTEM
FOR
FOOD AND FEED
REPORT
FOR THE YEAR 2002
THE RAPID ALERT SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND FEED.
This report concerns the functioning of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) for the
year 2002. The RASFF was established under Article 8 of Directive 92/59/EEC which provides for
a procedure to inform the Member States (EU + EFTA/EEA) when a product presents a serious risk
for the health and safety of consumers and has received a new legal base since 21 February 2002 (Regulation (EC) N° 178/2002). This new legal base extends the Rapid Alert System for Food and
Feed, to include all food and feed products finally destined for human consumption.
This report is intended to provide detailed information on the number of notifications, the sources of
contamination, the origin of the notifications, the products and the countries involved.
The RASFF deals with two types of notifications:
Ø Alert notifications
Notifications relating to products which are on the market and which present a risk to the
consumer
Ø Information notifications
Notifications relating to products presenting a risk to the consumer for which it can be assumed
that they are not on the market (e.g. stopped at the border, product over the “best before date”)
or for which the risk is limited (long delay between the finding and the notification).
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS:
The number of information exchanges rose from 698 in 1999 , 823 in 2000 and 1567 in 2001 to
3024 in the year 2002
This report only refers to products, which have been subject to a notification within the RASFF. It
therefore provides a partial albeit useful picture of the real situation (Annex 1).
ANNEX 1
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS 2002
EVOLUTION OF NOTIFICATIONS 1999-2002
YEAR
ALERTS
INFORMATIONS
1999
2000
2001
2002
97
133
302
434
263
340
406
1092
ADDITION TO ADDITION TO
ALERTS
INFORMATIONS
279
59
253
98
549
310
1032
466
TOTAL
698
824
1567
3024
1200
1092
1032
1000
800
600
1999
2000
2001
2002
549
466
434
406
400
339
310
302
279
263
253
200
133
98
97
59
0
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD*
INFO ADD
OVERVIEW PER QUARTER - YEAR 2001
18
25
16
20
14
12
15
10
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD*
INFO ADD
8
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
10
6
4
5
2
0
0
week 1
week 2
week 3
week 4
week 5
week 6
week 7
week 8
week 9
week 14 week 15 week 16
week 10 week 11 week 12 week 13
30
week 17
week 18 week 19
week 20
week 21 week 22
week 23
week 24 week 25
week 26
35
30
25
25
20
ALERT
INFO
15
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
20
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
week 27
week 28
week 29 week 30 week 31
week 32
week 33
week 34 week 35 week 36
week 37
week 38
week 39
week 40
week 41
week 42 week 43 week 44
week 45
week 46
week 47 week 48 week 49
week 50
week 51
week 52
OVERVIEW PER QUARTER - YEAR 2002
40
50
45
35
40
30
35
25
30
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
25
20
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
week 1
week 2
week 3
week 4
week 5
week 6
week 7
week 8
week 9
week 10
week 11
week 12
week 14
week 13
week 15
week 16
week 17
week 18
week 19
week 20
week 21
week 22
week 23
week 24
week 25
week 26
70
50
45
60
40
50
35
30
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
25
40
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
30
20
15
20
10
10
5
0
week 27 week 28 week 29
week 30
week 31 week 32
week 33
week 34 week 35
week 36
week 37 week 38
week 39
0
week 40
week 41 week 42
week 43 week 44 week 45
week 46 week 47
week 48 week 49
week 50 week 51
week 52
OVERVIEW TOTAL EXCHANGES PER WEEK IN THE YEAR 2001
TOTALS
90
80
77
70
60
51
48
50
43
40
22
19
20
21 22
4646
43
42
33
50
40
40
33
25 24
24
21
21
17 1717
13
19
12
10
19
34
25
23
21
TOTALS
40 39
31 32
29
28
30
41 42
35 36 35
33
48
22
21
18
14
10
5
0
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
31
33
35
37
39
41
43
45
47
49
51
OVERVIEW TOTAL EXCHANGES PER WEEK FOR THE YEAR 2002
120
113
108
105
100
88
86
83
85
8181
80
70
68
63
71
68
68
71
68
64
63
58
60
73
58
56
59
57
53
58
63
62
60
57
54
53
TOTALS
56 57
50
49
47
44
43
41
39
40
38
36
34
32
31
27
26
22
21
20
6
0
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
31
33
35
37
39
41
43
45
47
49
51
OVERVIEW EXCHANGES PER CATEGORY AND PER QUARTER IN 2002
350
300
250
200
First Q
Second Q
Third Q
Fourth Q
150
100
50
0
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD*
INFO ADD
we
ek
1
we
ek
3
we
ek
5
we
ek
7
we
ek
we 9
ek
1
we 1
ek
1
we 3
ek
1
we 5
ek
1
we 7
ek
1
we 9
ek
2
we 1
ek
2
we 3
ek
2
we 5
ek
2
we 7
ek
2
we 9
ek
3
we 1
ek
3
we 3
ek
3
we 5
ek
3
we 7
ek
3
we 9
ek
4
we 1
ek
4
we 3
ek
4
we 5
ek
4
we 7
ek
4
we 9
ek
51
OVERVIEW EXCHANGES PER WEEK - YEAR 2001
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
we
ek
1
we
ek
3
we
ek
5
we
ek
7
we
ek
we 9
ek
1
we 1
ek
1
we 3
ek
1
we 5
ek
1
we 7
ek
1
we 9
ek
2
we 1
ek
2
we 3
ek
2
we 5
ek
2
we 7
ek
2
we 9
ek
3
we 1
ek
3
we 3
ek
3
we 5
ek
3
we 7
ek
3
we 9
ek
4
we 1
ek
4
we 3
ek
4
we 5
ek
4
we 7
ek
4
we 9
ek
51
OVERVIEW EXCHANGES PER WEEK - YEAR 2002
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
ALERT
INFO
ALERT ADD
INFO ADD
ALERT NOTIFICATIONS FROM
1992-2002
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
450
434
400
350
302
300
250
200
150
133
100
97
74
67
50
19
21
10 16
10
0
Alerts
Notifications
INFORMATION
NOTIFICATIONS FROM
1992-2002
1200
1092
1000
800
600
400
263 339
156
2002
1995
2001
1994
2000
1993
3 16
1999
2
1998
3
1997
1
1996
1
1992
200
0
Information
Notifications
406
Notifications according to the product categories involved
2000
TOTAL
1
2
2000
Alert
1
1
2000
Non-Alert
0
1
2001
TOTAL
0
1
2001
Alert
0
1
2001
Non-Alert
0
0
2002
TOTAL
3
1
2002
Alert
1
0
Additives
Alcoholic beverages (other than
wine)
Cereals and bakery products
5
1
4
9
7
2
8
5
Cocoa and cocoa preparations,
19
0
19
19
4
15
20
4
coffee and tea
Confectionery
2
0
2
7
5
2
53
19
Dairy products
25
19
6
15
7
8
45
19
Eggs and egg products
4
4
0
1
1
0
18
8
Fats and oils
3
1
2
74
73
1
13
11
Feedingsstuffs
0
0
0
0
0
0
90
31
Fish, crustaceans and molluscs
165
32
133
232
87
145
480
112
Foodstuffs intended for special
8
7
1
3
2
1
26
19
nutritional uses
Fruit and vegetables
65
12
53
76
25
51
212
59
Herbs and spices
21
1
20
35
12
23
30
7
Ices and desserts
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
Materials and articles intended to
2
0
2
1
0
1
5
1
come into contact with foodstuffs
Meat and meat products, game
52
27
25
53
38
15
234
98
and poultry
Non-alcoholic beverages
2
1
1
7
5
2
6
3
Nut and nut products, snacks
92
21
71
157
19
138
251
24
Prepared dishes
0
0
0
2
1
1
4
1
Soups, broths and sauces
4
4
0
15
14
1
14
6
Wine
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
TOTAL
473
133
340
708
302
406
1515
430
*One Notification has been upgrated from a Non-Alert to an Alert and 9 notifications were withdrawn in the year 2002 (not included)
2002
Non-Alert
2
1
3
16
34
26
10
2
59
368
7
153
23
0
4
136
3
227
3
8
0
0
1085
Notifications according to categories of source of contamination in 2002
CHEMICAL
VETERINARY DRUG RESIDUES
MICROBIOLOGICAL
PESTICIDE RESIDUES
NOT DETERMINED
PARASITES
ADVERSE EFFECTS
FOREIGN BODIES
LABELLING
PACKAGING
RADIATION
ORGANOLEPTIC CHANGES
ADULTERATION
TOTAL 2002
Total
510
446
307
172
24
19
15
14
11
4
3
2
1
1528
Alert
130
90
132
43
17
1
5
11
2
0
0
2
0
433
Non-alert
380
356
175
129
7
18
10
3
9
4
3
0
1
1095
One Notification has been upgrated from a Non-Alert to an Alert and 9 notifications were withdrawn in the year of 2002 (not included)
A notification might contain more than one sources of contamination.
Notifications according to the countries of origin of the product in 2002
China
Thailand
Turkey
Brazil
Germany
Italy
Vietnam
Iran
India
France
Netherlands
Spain
Indonesia
Belgium
U.S.A.
Denmark
Morocco
Namibia
Malaysia
Ukraine
Lithuania
South Africa
United Kingdom
Sweden
Argentina
Chile
Ecuador
Latvia
Bangladesh
Egypt
Estonia
Russia
Ivory Coast
Pakistan
Panama
Cyprus
Greece
Ireland
Paraguay
Sri lanka
Singapore
Taiwan
Tunisia
Israel
Japan
Philippines
Poland
Senegal
147
143
141
102
97
94
67
63
61
48
47
42
39
27
25
19
17
16
14
14
13
13
13
12
11
11
11
11
10
9
8
8
7
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
Switzerland
Romania
Botswana
Czech Republic
Korea - South
South East Asian countries
Uganda
Uruguay
Australia
Belarus
Bulgaria
Congo
Hong Kong
Hungary
Lebanon
Mali
Mexico
Moldava
Myanmar
New Zealand
Peru
Portugal
Seychelles
Tanzania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Fiji Islands
Gambia
Ghana
Guatemala
Luxembourg
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius Islands
Nigeria
Norway
Slovakia
Suriname
Syria
Togo
Uzbekistan
Unknown
TOTAL 2002*
*Remark: Products originates sometimes from more than one country
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1520
Notifications according to notifying countries in 2002
COUNTRY
number of notifications
Alerts
Informations
GERMANY
455
155
300
ITALY
214
30
184
NETHERLANDS
159
44
115
UNITED KINGDOM
155
38
117
SPAIN
149
1
148
BELGIUM
70
35
35
FRANCE
59
20
39
EFTA/NORWAY
57
20
37
AUSTRIA
39
23
16
GREECE
36
2
34
SWEDEN
34
20
14
FINLAND
33
10
23
DENMARK
27
18
9
IRELAND
11
8
3
PORTUGAL
11
1
10
LUXEMBOURG
6
5
1
EFTA/ICELAND
0
0
0
EFTA/LIECHTESTEIN
0
0
0
TOTAL 2002
1515
430
1085
*One Notification has been upgrated from a Non-Alert to an Alert and 9 notifications were withdrawn in the year 2002 (not included)
Notifications according to regions of the countries of origin of the product since 1979
EU
EUROPE
EU/EUROPE
EU/SOUTH
AMERICA
EU/ASIA/NORTH
AMERICA
EU/ASIA
EUROPE/ASIA
NORTH AMERICA
CENTRAL
AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
CARABEAN
ASIA
AFRICA
AFRICA/ASIA
MIDDLE EAST
MIDDLE
EAST/ASIA
OCEANIA
UNKNOWN
1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
1
4
4
4
12
16
12
14
25
21
17
12
8
9
14
3
14
23
41
74
107 223 414
1
2
1
1
3
2
5
36
30
15
15
84
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
1
1
3
3
3
6
4
1
2
2
1
1
1
15
11
9
12
5
2
4
1
1
1
1
2
18
1
19
16
1
3
1
1
2
1
3
2
4
4
2
2
1
2
1
18
32
2
1
1
1
33
21
1
19
11
22
4
7
15
23
17
66
36
6
1
2
3
1
1
3
4
1
16
4
22
2
12
19
6
12
8
9
51
89
50
56
7
140
48
214
51
35
74
79
128
1
1
3
82
230
3
4
360
6
3
708
473
0
0
26
21
136
0
526
85
0
221
0
5
2
1520
ALERT NOTIFICATIONS PER
NOTIFYING COUNTRY IN 2002
155
160
ALERT
140
120
100
80
0
LI
0
ICL
10
20
20
N
1
NL
L
I
F
E
D
DK
B
5
FI
8
2 1
IRL
20
0
23
20
P
18
38
S
30
OS
35
EL
40
44
UK
60
INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS PER
NOTIFYING COUNTRY IN 2002
INFORMATION
300
300
250
184
200
150
148
117
115
100
39
0
0
ICL
LI
UK
S
FI
P
OS
NL
L
1
I
IRL
F
E
EL
3
D
DK
B
9
0
37
16 10 23 14
N
34
50 35
NOTIFICATIONS PER NOTIFIED E.U.
COUNTRY IN 2002
94
97
42
ALERT+INFORMATION
48
47
27
19
LI
ICL
N
1 0 0
UK
0
S
2
FI
OS
0
NL
L
I
IRL
F
1
P
12 13
6
E
EL
D
DK
6
B
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
NOTIFICATIONS PER MOST
NOTIFIED THIRD COUNTRY IN 2002
ALERT+INFORMATION
102
67 63
61
39
UKRAINE
MALAYSIA
NAMIBIA
MOROCCO
U.S.A.
INDONESIA
INDIA
IRAN
VIETNAM
BRAZIL
TURKEY
25 17
16 14 14
THAILAND
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
147143 141
CHINA
160
CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS NOTIFIED IN
2002 AS ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
FOODSTUFFS
INTENDED FOR
SPECIAL
NUTRITIONAL
USES
CONFECTIONARY
4%
EGGS AND
EGG
PRODUCTS
4%
FATS AND
OILS
2%
FISH
CRUSTACEANS
AND
MOLLUSCS
26%
DAIRY
PRODUCTS
4%
OTHERS
7%
NUTS
5%
FEEDING
STUFF
7%
FRUIT AND
VEGETABLES
14%
MEAT AND
MEAT
PRODUCTS
23%
REASONS FOR ALERT NOTIFICATIONS IN
2002
Not
determined
4%
Pesticide
residues
10%
Veterinary
drug residues
21%
Foreign bodies
3%
Others
2%
Microbiological
30%
Chemical
30%
MICROBIOLOGICAL REASONS FOR ALERT
NOTIFICATIONS IN 2002
OTHERS
18%
VIBRIOS
9%
SALMONELLA
E
56%
LISTERIA
17%
CHEMICAL REASONS FOR ALERT
NOTIFICATIONS IN 2002
DIOXINS
3%
HEAVY
METALS
3%
OTHERS
10%
VETERINARY
DRUG
RESIDUES
38%
MARINE
BIOTOXINS
3%
MYCOTOXINS
10%
PAH
13%
PESTICIDE
RESIDUES
20%
CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS NOTIFIED IN
2002 AS INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Confectio
nery
3%
Dairy
products
2%
Herbs and
Spices
2%
Others
Fish
Crustaceans
and
Molluscs
35%
Feedingstuffs 5%
Meat and
meat
products
13%
Fruit and
Vegetables
14%
Nuts and nut
products
21%
REASONS FOR INFORMATION
NOTIFICATIONS IN 2002
Pesticide
Residues
12%
Parasites
2%
Adverse
Effects
1%
Others
2%
Chemical
26%
Microbio
logical
16%
Veterinary
Drug Residues
33%
CHEMICAL REASONS FOR INFORMATION
NOTIFICATIONS IN 2002
ADDITIVES
1%
DIOXINS
1%
3-MCPD
1%
OTHERS
5%
VETERINARY
DRUG
RESIDUES
45%
HEAVY
METALS
4%
PESTICIDE
RESIDUES
17%
MYCOTOXINS
26%
MICROBIOLOGICAL REASONS FOR
INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS IN 2002
ENTEROBACTERIACEAE
10%
OTHERS
16%
SALMONELLAE
29%
MESOPHILES
12%
LISTERIA
13%
VIBRIOS
20%