Difference between revisions of "Dioxin directive"

Revision as of 09:05, 28 January 2011

There are actually two pieces of Dioxin directives in the European Union legislation. The one setting maximum concentrations for dioxin and PCB in animal feed (2006/13/EC) and the other one setting corresponding concentrations for foodstuffs (2006/1881/EC). These pollutants are known to cause developmental defects in laboratory animals, and tooth development defects have also been observed in children after high exposures during fetal period or from mother's milk.

Finnish and Swedish derogation

Finland and Sweden have a derogation in the directive for years 2006-2011. Several fish species can be caught from the Baltic Sea area and sold (but not exported) even if their dioxin and PCB concentrations are higher than what is allowed in the directive. The most important fish species are wild Baltic salmon (Salmo salar) and Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras). There are also three other species listed in the derogation, but their consumption, export and commercial value is small.

The main argument for the derogation was that Baltic salmon and herring are fatty fish containing a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to be healthy by especially reducing cardiovascular mortality. Omega-3 fatty acids also have beneficial effects on other organs, such as the developing brain of the fetus and young child.

The health benefits of fatty fish have been shown to clearly outweigh the potential risks of even relatively high levels of pollutants in fish. ^{[1] [2]} In addition, Baltic salmon and herring are fish species that in Finland are only marginally used by the main risk group, namely girls and pregnant women.

The dioxin and PCB concentrations in the environment have been clearly decreasing since 1970's, and there seems to be still a slight downward trend.

See also

• European Commission directive 2006/13/EC.

References

Related files

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