Abstract
In recent year, the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), an international body formed to develop standards, has carried out active discussions, and established standards, for some mycotoxins in food. In response to a request of the CAC, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives evaluated the safety of various mycotoxins in February 2001. An approach to standards setting is expected to be advanced by the global scientific community in the near future. Under such circumstances, Japan has established standards for deoxynivalenol and patulin a guideline level for deoxynivalenol in wheat in May 2002, and a standard for patulin in apple juice and in apple juice ingredients for other nonalcoholic beverages in November 2003. It is very important for Japan to continue to investigate various mycotoxins, and to develop standards for food mycotoxins, in order to prevent health hazards.
