1. AN OVERVIEW: SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
PROF.DR. Uygun AKSOY
AEGEAN EXPORTERS’ ASSOCIATIONS
CHAIR OF THE DRIED APRICOT AD HOC COMMITTEE

2. content SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
FRUCOM JOINT WORKING GROUPS DRIED FRUIT & NUTS, 26 January 2017, Brussels
content
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives
What we did?
Key Figures
Latest Scientific Works
Key Findings
RASFF Notifications
What is next?

3. The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives
Commission Regulation (EU) No 257/2010 sets up a programme for the re-evaluation of approved food additives, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 EFSA shall: a) Examine the original opinion and the working documents of the Scientific Committee on Food (‘SCF’) or EFSA; b) Examine, where available, the original dossier; c) Examine the data submitted by the interested business operator(s) and/or any other interested party; d) Examine any data made available by the Commission and Member States; e) Identify any relevant literature published.

4. SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
The EU Re-evaluation of the safety of permitted food additives
Procedure of the call for data; Step 1: Registration of the contact details of business operators interested in submitting data Step 2: Confirmation of data submission, deadlines and milestones Procedure for submission of the required data Confidential data Possibility for EFSA to use the data for the safety assessment of the additives

5. SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
What we did?
Registered as an interested party and committed to submit the new data on absorption and excretion for sulphur dioxide in dried apricots and data relevant for addressing the estimated exceedance of the ADI of sulphur dioxide
First meeting of ad-hoc Committee on January 10th, 2016
Formed an ad hoc Committee with the representatives of;
Ministry of Economy,
Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock,
Universities,
Research Institutions,
Aegean Exporters’ Associations,
Exporters
Gathered information from Committee Members and apricot exporters

6. Key Figures – Estimated World Dried Apricot Production (MT)
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
SAFETY OF PERMITTED FOOD ADDITIVES
Key Figures – Estimated World Dried Apricot Production (MT)
Country
2015/2016
2016/2017
Turkey
84.500
Iran
15.000
Uzbekistan
8.500
9.000
China
5.000
6.000
Afghanistan
4.000
3.500
South Africa
1.446
1.500
USA
2.000
1.200
Others
30.300
30.000
World Total
Source: INC

7. Exported quantity, Tons
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Figures - World Export
Exporters
2015
Exported quantity, Tons
Turkey
65.267
Tajikistan
20.455
Uzbekistan
5.305
Kazakhstan
4.653
China
2.698
Spain
2.322
Germany
1.529
Netherlands
1.237
OTHERS
9.699
World
Source: Trade Map

8. Key Figures - Seasonal Turkish Dried Apricots Production and Export
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Figures - Seasonal Turkish Dried Apricots Production and Export
Sulphured: 80,7%
Natural: 9,6%
Organic: 9,7%
Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

9. Key Figures-Yearly Turkish Dried Apricots Export (MT)
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Figures-Yearly Turkish Dried Apricots Export (MT)
Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

10. Key Figures-Monthly Turkish Dried Apricots Export 2016 (MT)
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Figures-Monthly Turkish Dried Apricots Export 2016 (MT)
Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

11. SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Monthly change in the amount (as %) of raw matter entering the processing plant and final product for exportation
Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

12. Raw material sulphur contents Final product sulphur contents
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Preliminary results of the survey
Raw material sulphur contents
Crop year
<1000 ppm
ppm
ppm
>3000 ppm %
2014
1,4
29,7
47,6
23,2
2015
1,5
22,2
49,0
27,3
2016
1,0
27,2
46,3
25,5
Final product sulphur contents
Crop year
>1000 ppm
ppm
ppm
>3000 ppm %
2014
1,4
68,6
18,2
11,8
2015
2,8
55,6
20,6
21,1
2016
0,9
60,0
19,5
19,6
Source: Aegean Exporters’ Associations

13. Latest Published Scientific Papers and Projects
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Latest Published Scientific Papers and Projects
Papers:
Quality and Nutritional Property Changes in Stored Dried Apricots Fumigated by Sulfur Dioxide, Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 56(2):
How Does Sulphur Treatment Effect Quality Preservation Of Dried Apricot (cv. Kabaaşı) Fruıts In Storage?, Advances in Food Sciences PSP Volume 37 – No
Effect of Cold and Fluctuating Storage Conditions on Quality of Dried Apricot, Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 50(3):
Projects:
Development of Sulphuring, Drying and Storage Systems for High Quality Dried Apricots, TUBITAK MAM, Inonu Unıversıty, MARA
Determination of Quality and Compositional Changes During Storage of Dried Apricot Fruit Treated at Different Sulphur Dioxide Concentrations, Ege University , Inonu University, Gazi Osman Paşa University 2013

14. Project:
Development of Sulphuring, Drying and Storage Systems for High Quality Dried Apricots (TARAL 1007)
Partners:
* TUBITAK (Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council) MAM
* Mo Food, Agriculture and Livestock
* İnönü University
* GÖKSER Machinery Co.

15. SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Findings
To prevent color darkening fruits are treated with SO2 before drying (except in organic and untreated natural apricots)
Fruit color darkens as storage is extended,
Various factors affect darkening : temperature, moisture content, pH, exposure to and concentration of SO2
SO2 treatment;
Slows down mold and yeast growth
Prevents insect damage
Allows longer storage and marketing under ambient conditions
Affects the nutritional value by preserving antioxidant compounds (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, and other antioxidants)

16. SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Findings
Because of health concerns on sulphur, SO2 concentration in food has been revisited globally since decades.
Today, different countries have set different maximum levels for sulphite in food.
The importers have different limits or the buyer puts forth his own specifications. e.g. Australian government limit the amount of sulphites in food to 3000 ppm, while others as the European Union and Turkey, have 2000 ppm, and Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Additives has set up this limit at 1000 mg/kg for dried fruits, except some e.g. dried apricots (2000 mg/kg).
SO2 content has been discussed by all the stakes of dried fruit trade, and the discussions today, target at establishing scientifically based maximum limits.

17. SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
MADDE 1
Key Findings
MONTHS

18. Key Findings 3 months 6 months 12 months 15 months 18 months 1269 ppm
RE-EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY OF PERMITTED FOOD ADDITIVES
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Findings
3 months
6 months
12 months
15 months
18 months
1269 ppm
2020 ppm
3434 ppm

19. Key Findings 2700 ppm 1700 ppm 1400 ppm 1040 ppm 750 ppm
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Findings
2700 ppm
1700 ppm
1400 ppm
1040 ppm
750 ppm
Based upon the raw matter there could be a variation of 700 ppm among individual fruit

20. SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
Key Findings
750 ppm
1700 ppm
2700 ppm

21. RASFF Notifications for dried apricots of Turkish origin 2012 – 2016
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
RASFF Notifications for dried apricots of Turkish origin
2012 – 2016
Year
too high content of sulphite in dried apricots
undeclared sulphite in dried apricots
min. ppm
max. ppm
total
2012
2247
2620 3  - -
2013
2312
2963 4
1070 1
2014*
2277
3349 18 72
1723
2015
2040
5015 26
1505
2363 2
2016
2157
4407
530
2202 6
Source: RASFF Portal
* After stricter controls

22. Drafting a document for the EFSA, Submission of required data,
RE-EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY OF PERMITTED FOOD ADDITIVES
SULPHITES IN DRIED APRICOTS
What is next?
Drafting a document for the EFSA,
Submission of required data,
Discussions at national and international level.

23. Thank you