EU agrees to modify max level of non-dioxin-like PCBs in spiny dogfish

Helmut Nickel (mail), Shark Year Magazine,
14. May 2015

European Commission adopts new PCB limits for spiny dogfish

As noted in our article published last February, the European Union revealed its intention to significantly raise the allowable level of non-dioxin-like PCBs in products of wild caught spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias. The related post can be found here: EU plans to ease regulations for dogfish imports.

Now we would like to provide an update on this development.

On 30. April 2015, the proposed regulation has been officially adopted by the European Commission.

The amendment allows a maximum level of 200 ng/g of non-dioxin-like PCBs in muscle meat of wild caught spiny dogfish, representing an increase of ca. 166 percent ( previous max. level: 75 ng/g wet weight ).

The adoption of the new regulation has already been published in the ‘Official Journal of the European Union’ on 01. May 2015. It will enter into effect on 21. May 2015 and will be binding in all EU Member States.

In the European Union, the maximum level of non-dioxin-like PCBs in muscle meat of fish and fishery products is usually 75 ng/g wet weight.
But now, with this new regulation, spiny dogfish products make up the latest of the following five exceptions for maximum non-dioxin-like PCB concentrations in fishery products :
– wild caught eel (Anguilla anguilla) : 300 ng/g wet weight
– wild caught spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) : 200 ng/g wet weight
– fish liver and derived products ( exception: marine oils ) : 200 ng/g wet weight
– marine fish oils : 200 ng/g fat
– wild caught fresh water fish ( exception: diadromous species ) : 125 ng/g wet weight

Source: EU ( e.g. see below )

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