Some reflections on establishing a community legislation on mycotoxins.

A Community legislation on mycotoxins is essential to protect public health and to avoid trade barriers and competition distortions. Maximum permitted levels in food are to be fixed. Some orientations for this purpose are indicated. The verification of the compliance with maximum permitted levels shall need suitable analytical methods. Up to now, such methods were fixed by directives. This approach, however, had some disadvantages. A more flexible approach is to be planned. Among the mycotoxins to be taken into consideration, priority should be granted to the aflatoxins and to ochratoxin A. Fumonisins also deserve interest. Other mycotoxins will be taken into consideration as the need arises and scientific data are available. Some basic remarks on the rationale for establishing maximum permitted levels in food are made.