RESOLUTION CST 1/2002

REDUCTION OF OCHRATOXIN IN WINES

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

ON THE PROPOSAL OF the Scientific and Technical Committee, after considering the data from the “Viticulture” Commission, the « Technology of wine » experts group, the « Wine, Nutrition and Health » Sub-commission and the « Methods of Analysis and Appraisal of Wine Sub-commission » concerning ochratoxin A,

CONSIDERING that this toxin was subject to a toxicological evaluation at the 56th FAO/WHO Joint Experts Committee on food additives (JECFA), which set a provisional tolerable weekly intake of 100 ng/kg of body weight;

TAKING NOTICE that in some instances, ochratoxin A  has been observed in many foods, including grapes,

CONSIDERING that the growth of the species of fungus responsible for the presence of ochratoxin A takes place in grapes in the vineyards,

REQUESTS that the level of ochratoxin A in wine be established as low as technologically achievable,

DECIDES to fix for wines obtained as from the 2005 harvest a maximal content in Ochratoxin A at 2 µg/l.

REQUESTS that reduction conditions of this maximal content be examined from now on, taking into consideration the technological and toxicological data so as to permit a further revision.

RECOMMENDS that the member states pursue research on preventive and protection measures in order to prevent the formation and the growth of ochratoxin A on grapes in the vineyards as well as setting up measures to reduce the presence of this toxin in grapes, wine and other grape-based products and to continue toxological research and other appropriate scientific work in the wine matrix.

SUGGESTS that the OIV set up a Code of good vitivinicultural practices in order to limit at maximum the presence of Ochratoxine A in grape-derived product.

Declaration of Finland :

“Finland regrets that the General Assembly could not agree on the introduction of a maximum limit for Ochratoxin-A of two micrograms per liter of wine already from the year 2002.”