Use and impact of the code of practice for the prevention and reduction of mycotoxin contamination in cereals (CXC 51–2003) in Brazil

Abstract

Mycotoxins, produced by toxigenic fungi under certain environmental conditions, and found in soil, plants, crops and dust can lead to pre–harvest and post–harvest mycotoxin contamination in cereals, posing serious threats to human and animal health and trade. The Codex Alimentarius Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of mycotoxin contamination in cereals (CoP) provides guidelines for preventing and reducing mycotoxin contamination in cereal grains, grain–derived foods and animal feeds. It emphasizes good agricultural and manufacturing practices considering environment and climate, as well as agronomic practices to enable and facilitate adoption of these practices. Brazil successfully reduced fumonisin levels in maize by implementing the CoP, resulting in significant improvements in food safety and maize export quality and value. Brazil became the third–largest producer and second–largest exporter of maize worldwide. The case study claims that this was due to the establishment of national maximum levels (MLs) and the use of the CoP to support them. While the case study set out to look at the use and impact of the CoP, the findings indicate a more complex picture. It was impossible to consider the use and impact of the CoP without looking at the wider enabling environment and the interactions between various elements. These included the understanding gained through the JECFA evaluations on fumonisins, in particular on the role of data that is geographically representative and reflective of the implementation of good practices in different environments. The need to share that data with the international community so that it can be taken into consideration in the development of Codex standards also became apparent. The establishment of MLs as a means of driving change which included implementation of the CoP was fundamental. Brazil’s engagement in the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) and the leading role they took there taking into consideration the national challenges they were facing was also important. Discussions on Codex MLs and the CoP at CCCF, informed national discussions in Brazil as well as vice versa such that they contributed to the development of Brazil’s approach to establish MLs as a regulatory tool and use the CoP to support implementation of the regulation, while in parallel contributed to the evolution of Codex texts. This highlights the important synergism that exists between MLs and CoPs, and while they are not always developed in parallel in Codex for various reasons, this study suggests that when it comes to implementation there is value in using both MLs and CoPs together to decrease mycotoxin contamination. However, for this to be effective there needs to be widespread stakeholder engagement and multiagency support. The efforts in Brazil were successful because of that extensive engagement which ensured that regulatory efforts were supported by research, awareness raising, training and updated inspection protocols, to name but a few. Time was also a critical factor. Brazil did not expect to make changes overnight, rather the implementation of a progressive, phased approach, which allowed stakeholders to keep pace with a stepwise reduction in MLs helped ensure that producers and processors were not left behind. These lessons learned may be valuable to other countries in their efforts to implement Codex standards.