90/515/EEC: Commission Decision of 26 September 1990 laying down the reference methods for detecting residues of heavy metals and arsenic

• Published date: 18 October 1990
• Subject Matter: Veterinary legislation
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Communities, L 286, 18 October 1990

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90/515/EEC: Commission Decision of 26 September 1990 laying down the reference methods for detecting residues of heavy metals and arsenic

Official Journal L 286 , 18/10/1990 P. 0033 - 0039
Finnish special edition: Chapter 3 Volume 34 P. 0190
Swedish special edition: Chapter 3 Volume 34 P. 0190

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COMMISSION DECISION

of 26 September 1990

laying down the reference methods for detecting residues of heavy metals and arsenic

(90/515/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (1), as last amended by Directive 89/662/EEC (2), and in particular Article 4 (1) (b) thereof,

Having regard to the opinion of the Scientific Veterinary Committee,

Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 (1) (b) of Directive 64/433/EEC, reference methods should be laid down for assessing the results of the examination for residues;

Whereas Article 1 of Commission Decision 89/610/EEC of 14 November 1989 laying down the reference methods and the list of national reference laboratories for detecting residues (3) excludes coverage of heavy metals and arsenic;

Whereas, pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 8 (3) of Council Directive 86/469/EEC of 16 December 1986 concerning the examination of animals and fresh meat for the presence of residues (4), all positive findings must, if challenged, be confirmed using the reference methods established pursuant to Article 4 (1) (b) of Directive 64/433/EEC;

Whereas the determination of reference methods includes the definition of the analytical reference procedures to be followed and the criteria to be applied when carrying out the analyses;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The analytical reference procedures to be applied for confirmation of the presence of residues shall be the following:

1. for arsenic:

- atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) (graphite furnace or hydride generation technique),

- colorimetry (after complexation).

2. for cadmium and lead:

- atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) (graphite furnace or flame)

- anodic stripping voltammetry by derivative pulse polarography (DPASV).

3. for mercury: cold vapour phase atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

Article 2

The analytical reference procedure of choice must be based preferably on atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and must have a limit of detection which is equal to or lower than that of the procedure used for routine analyses.

Article 3

The criteria applicable to the analytical reference procedure are set out in the Annex.

Article 4

This Decision shall be reexamined before 1 January 1996 in order to take account of developments in scientific and technical knowledge.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 26 September 1990.

For the Commission

Ray MAC SHARRY

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64.

(2) OJ No L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13.

(3) OJ No L 351, 2. 12. 1989, p. 39.

(4) OJ No L 275, 26. 9. 1986, p. 36.

ANNEX

1.

DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CRITERIA

1.1.

Parameters

The parameters provided for in the Annex to Council Directive 85/591/EEC (1) as defined in this report shall apply to reference methods of analysis for residues of heavy metals and arsenic.

1.2.

Definitions

1.2.1.

Analyte: a component of a test sample the content of which has to be measured. The term 'analyte' includes derivatives formed from the analyte during the analysis wherever this is necessary.

1.2.2.

Standard material: a well defined substance of recognized analytical purity to be used to prepare calibrant solutions and calibration curves.

1.2.3.

Certified reference material: a sample of substance or a single manufactured object of which one, or several, properties are determined with sufficient accuracy, so that it can be used to calibrate an apparatus or to verify a method of measurement. The certification must be based on technically valid procedures. If no certified reference material is available, relevant parameters may be evaluated by analysing fortified sample material. For the purpose of this document reference materials are used to verify the accuracy of the analysis.

Note:

CRMs suitable for the verification of methods for heavy metals and arsenic in muscle, liver and kidney are available from the Community Bureau of Reference, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels.

1.2.4.

Selectivity: the ability of a method to distinguish between the analyte to be measured and other substances. This characteristic is predominantly a function of the measuring principle used, but can vary according to class of compound or matrix. A specific method is one exhibiting the ultimate in selectivity.

1.2.5.

Accuracy: in this document this refers to accuracy of the mean. The definition which shall be used is laid down in ISO 3534-1977 under 2.83 (accuracy of the mean: the closeness of agreement between the true value and the mean result which would be obtained by applying the experimental procedure a very large number of times).

The principal limitations on the accuracy of a determination are both random error and systematic error, though where the result is derived from a very large number of determinations, the random errors tend to cancel out and the accuracy of the mean approaches the systematic...