scholarly journals Application of the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) in Food Safety: Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rositsa Serafimova ◽  
Tamara Coja ◽  
George E. N. Kass

The safety assessment of chemicals added or found in food has traditionally made use of data from in vivo studies performed on experimental animals. The nature and amount of data required to carry out a risk assessment is generally stipulated either in the different food legislations or in sectoral guidance documents. However, there are still cases where no or only limited experimental data are available or not specified by law, for example for contaminants or for some minor metabolites from active substances in plant protection products. For such cases, the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) can be applied. This review explores the use of the TTC approach in food safety in the European Union, in relation to the different food sectors, legal requirements and future opportunities.

2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 01034
Author(s):  
Madiha Bahouq ◽  
Hanane Bahouq ◽  
Abdelmajid Soulaymani

Plant protection products present major risks to human health. Like other countries, Morocco is adopting phytopharmacovigilance measures. These steps are part of Morocco’s integrated approach aiming the rational use of pesticides. A census of the various actions and measures undertaken by Morocco through the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) in terms of monitoring and controlling the use of pesticides for agricultural use will be presented. Between 2018 and 2020, Morocco proceeded with the withdrawal of 15 active substances and 48 pesticides and the discharge of 10 tons of imported pesticides that did not comply with standards with a review of 10 active substances harmful to humans and animals. A quantity of 17641 tons of food products unfit for consumption by excess of pesticides, 136 tons of potatoes and 125 tons of mint were sent back and destroyed due to high maximum residue limits or use of unauthorized pesticides. In the same context, training workshops for farmers on the proper use of pesticides and the management of potential risks of poisoning are organized. As well as the adoption by the Moroccan government in 2020 of a law project to limit the use of dangerous pesticides and promote alternative methods.


Author(s):  
Jan Ludvig Lyche ◽  
Hubert Dirven ◽  
Marit Låg ◽  
Asbjørn Magne Nilsen ◽  
Katrine Borgå ◽  
...  

Aviator Xpro EC 225 containing the active substance bixafen was assessed by VKM in spring 2013, and it was concluded that the metabolite M44 has potential for groundwater contamination. Furthermore, VKM assessed in late 2013 the relevance of this metabolite in accordance with the EU guidance document on metabolites in groundwater, and concluded that the malformations observed in rabbits exposed to the metabolite should be considered treatment related. VKM also concluded that the data presented to evaluate the possible genotoxic properties of the metabolite was insufficient to reach a conclusion. Based on this, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority rejected the approval of Aviator Xpro EC 225. The applicant has now submitted results from an in vivo study to strengthen the basis for assessment of genotoxic properties, and also submitted new historical controls in relation to the experimental studies on foetal developmental effects in rabbits. The VKM Panel on Plant Protection Products has discussed the questions raised by The Norwegian Food Safety Authority on the basis of the new data, and has the following opinion: On the assessment of genotoxic properties of the M44 metabolite of bixafen, one of the active ingredients of Aviator Xpro EC 225. It is the view of VKM Panel on Plant Protection Products that the new in vivo mouse micronucleus study, supplemented together with a separate study demonstrating bioavailability, overrides the results of the in vitro clastogenicity studies. Taken together, it is the opinion of VKM that under the conditions studied, M44 should be considered as non-genotoxic. On the assessment of the relevance of the foetal malformations in M44 exposed animals. VKMs Panel on Plant Protection products has assessed the arguments and new historical control data presented by the applicant, intended to show that metabolite M44 is not teratogenic. It is however the opinion of the Panel that the arguments and the new historical data provided by the applicant do not alter the panel’s previous conclusion; that the malformations observed in rabbits exposed to the metabolite M44 should be considered treatment related.


Author(s):  
Asbjørn Magne Nilsen ◽  
Hubert Dirven ◽  
Jan Ludvig Lyche ◽  
Marit Låg ◽  
Katrine Borgå ◽  
...  

MCPA (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid) is the active ingredient in several registered herbicides. VKM concluded in 2006 that the effects observed in experiments with dogs were of little relevance to humans, and an AOEL value of 0.036 mg/kg bw/day was proposed, based on renal effects in a 90-day study in rats. The manufacturer is of the opinion that AOEL should be set to 0.11 mg/kg bw/day, and ADI to 0.05 mg/kg bw/day, based on the view that since a 90-day and 2-year study in rats were conducted in the same lab using the same rat strain, it is reasonable to eliminate effects which are not reproduced in both sets of data. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has therefore requested VKM’s Panel for Plant Protection Products for an opinion on the determination of NOAEL values based on the 90-day and 2-year studies in rats, and consider if it is acceptable to use the manufacturer's approach for an overall consideration of the submitted studies. The Panel has discussed the findings in the two rat studies and concluded that it is not considered acceptable that individual studies separated by several years, in this case studies performed in 1985 and 1988, are taken together and data not reproduced in both sets eliminated. The Panel is still of the opinion that both AOEL and ADI for MCPA should be set to 0.036 mg/kg bw/day based on a NOAEL of 3.6 mg/kg bw/day (50 ppm) from assessment of the renal effects in the 90-day study in rats. The manufacturer has also requested a reconsideration of the present values for dermal absorption which was set by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority during the administrative review of the product MCPA 750 Liquid in 2013. VKM’s Panel on Plant Protection Products supports the conclusion of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority concerning the determination of values for dermal absorption of MCPA. This includes the consideration of remaining substance in skin after washing as part of the absorbed dose in the in vitro studies, and the use of the same experimental time period in the in vitro and in vivo experiments as a basis for the so-called “Triple-pack-approach” for determination of human dermal absorption.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 370
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Artyszak ◽  
Dariusz Gozdowski ◽  
Alicja Siuda

Water shortage and drought are a growing problem in Europe. Therefore, effective methods for limiting its effects are necessary. At the same time, the “field to fork” strategy adopted by the European Commission aims to achieve a significant reduction in the use of plant protection products and fertilizers in the European Union. In an experiment conducted in 2018–2020, the effect of the method of foliar fertilization containing silicon and potassium on the yield and technological quality of sugar beet roots was assessed. The fertilizer was used in seven combinations, differing in the number and time of application. The best results were obtained by treating plants during drought stress. The better soil moisture for the plants, the smaller the pure sugar yield increase was observed. It is difficult to clearly state which combination of silicon and potassium foliar application is optimal, as their effects do not differ greatly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Matyjaszczyk

Abstract In the central part of the European Union soybean, lupin and camelina are minor agricultural crops. The paper presents analysis of plant protection products availability for those crops in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Data from year 2019 show that availability of products is generally insufficient. For camelina in some countries, there are no chemical products available whatsoever. For lupin and soybean, there are not always products available to control some pest groups. However, the products on the market differ significantly among the member states. The results show that in protection of soybean, lupin and camelina, no single active substance is registered for the same crop in all the analysed member states. In very numerous cases, active substance is registered in one out of eight analysed member states only.


2021 ◽  
Vol 350 ◽  
pp. S237
Author(s):  
M. Karaca ◽  
B. Fischer ◽  
C.T. Willenbockel ◽  
P. Marx-Stoelting ◽  
D. Bloch

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bonanno ◽  
Valentina C. Materia ◽  
Thomas Venus ◽  
Justus Wesseler

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2747
Author(s):  
Thomas Armand ◽  
Luâna Korn ◽  
Elodie Pichon ◽  
Marlène Souquet ◽  
Mélissandre Barbet ◽  
...  

Neonicotinoids are widely used to protect fields against aphid-borne viral diseases. The recent ban of these chemical compounds in the European Union has strongly impacted rapeseed and sugar beet growing practices. The poor sustainability of other insecticide families and the low efficiency of prophylactic methods to control aphid populations and pathogen introduction strengthen the need to characterize the efficiency of new plant protection products targeting aphids. In this study, the impact of Movento® (Bayer S.A.S., Leverkusen, Germany), a tetrameric acid derivative of spirotetramat, on Myzus persicae and on viral transmission was analyzed under different growing temperatures. The results show (i) the high efficiency of Movento® to protect rapeseed and sugar beet plants against the establishment of aphid colonies, (ii) the impact of temperature on the persistence of the Movento® aphicid properties and (iii) a decrease of approximately 10% of the viral transmission on treated plants. These observations suggest a beneficial effect of Movento® on the sanitary quality of treated crops by directly reducing primary infections and indirectly altering, through aphid mortality, secondary infections on which the spread of disease within field depends. These data constitute important elements for the future development of management strategies to protect crops against aphid-transmitted viruses.


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