Press Release: Dioxin contamination: EU traceability and alert notifications systems work well

After the discovery of dioxin contaminated potato by-products in the Netherlands, the European Commission was actively co-ordinating the tracing of the chain of deliveries through the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. Potato by-products, such as potato peels, were found contaminated by high levels of dioxins at a Dutch potato processing company. The by-products are used for animal feeding. As a result, all movement of animals from 162 farms in the Netherlands, 8 in Belgium and 3 in Germany, which received the animal feed, were blocked by the competent authorities. The national authorities of the Member States concerned were tracing the food chain. Consumer health and safety was not called into question at that moment.