A comparative study on the contaminant risk management between China and the European Union

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the contaminant standards system and risk management between China and the European Union （EU） and provide evidence and reference for revising and improving our general standards of contaminants and toxins in food.MethodsUsing the literature comparison and data analysis method， we compared the general standards of contaminants and toxins in food between China and EU in terms of contaminant species， food categories， and maximum levels.ResultsThere were 19 contaminant species in our general standards and 31 contaminant species in EU standards， and 15 of them were identical. The food categories in our general standards （43 categories） were more than that in the EU standards （28 categories）. Within 207 comparable indices between China and the EU， the maximum level of 26 indices （12.6%） in the China standards were stricter than those in the EU standards； 60 of them （29.0%） were equal to that in the EU standards and 121 of them （58.5%） were more generous than that in the EU standards.ConclusionThe contaminant standards system of China is equivalent to that of the EU in terms of formulating principles and protecting the health of residents. These should be further improved in terms of risk assessment capacity building， contaminant data support， novel contaminant management， and source pollution control.

Keywords

• contaminants
• european union
• maximum level
• food safety standards
• risk management