The NFU has revealed farmers will not need to supply mycotoxin test results for the remainder of the 2011 crop marketing year. The Union made the announcement following agreement between itself and cereal industry representatives made at a meeting in London last week.  

The union still stressed, however that HGCA risk assessments are still required at all intakes for human consumption and reminded farmers that breakfast cereal manufactures and certain specific mills will still require tests. The NFU advised growers to check with their merchant or co-operative if supplying a specialist market.

UK flour milling industry organisation Nabim said the risk to food safety posed by the principle mycotoxins varies from year to year and is largely weather dependent, though over the past five years a strategy has been developed to produce a relatively simple system providing safeguards along the supply chain.

In a statement the group commented, “Members of nabim have agreed a sector position for the management of DON and ZON in wheat from the 2011 harvest. This will remain in place until harvest 2012, when the situation will be reviewed by collecting data from intake samples from, at least, the first six weeks following the new harvest.”  

The key points for 2011 are as follows:  

• This year, member companies, within the flour milling sector, will strive to act together in the approach to the management of mycotoxins (DON & ZON).
• Survey results show that the 2011 harvest presents a low risk for both DON & ZON. In fact, it appears to be very similar to the 2010 harvest, which was the lowest year since the survey started in 2007.
• Due to the above, from 15 September, flour millers will no longer require a DON or ZON value at intake.
• Millers will continue to require a risk assessment (RA) number with every load. Loads that arrive without a RA may be rejected.
• Where the risk assessment number is greater than 15, a DON value will still be required.
• However, individual businesses may continue to require a DON or ZON value if there are local circumstances or pressure from customers to do so.
• Flour millers will each adopt their own regime of ‘due diligence’ testing on a site by site basis.
• Flour millers will be active in reporting, to the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme, any sample where there are concerns about the accuracy of the DON risk assessment or if no RA value is supplied.
• Flour millers will insist that all intake wheat is accompanied by the correct grain passport, properly completed and accompanied by the appropriate sticker. Action may be taken on loads failing to comply, and where there are inadequate explanations for deviations, these will be reported to Red Tractor Assurance Scheme.