Report on Analytical Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region (Italy)

Date of issue: 20 MARCH 2014

TABLE of CONTENT
1. Executive Summary ........................................ 2 2. Zusammenfassung.......................................... 2 3. BACKGROUND TO THE INVESTIGATION ... 3 INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE .......................... 4 4. SAMPLING ON-SITE ...................................... 4 5. ANALYSIS....................................................... 5 6. RESULTS........................................................ 7 1.1. Heavy Metals .................................... 7 1.2. Dioxines ............................................ 9

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 2 of 10

1. Executive Summary
At the end of 2013, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat has received notifications about soil contamination with illegally dumped communal and industrial waste in the Italian province of Campania. This issue is locally referred as Terra dei fuochi or Land of fire and it is widely debated in the Italian media. The media coverage has intensified recently, but the issue has been going on for more than 10 years. There is extensive literature on the internet, and also several press releases from the Ministry of Agriculture (http://www.politicheagricole.it/). GLOBALG.A.P. has notified all the Italian Certification Bodies and commissioned Food Experts S.L. (wwww.food-experts.com) to take samples at origin and undertake analysis to verify and quantify the presence of heavy metals and dioxins in a wide range of products produced in the affected area of the Campania Region in Italy. This report summarises the procedures followed and results obtained. The residue monitoring project was carried out between 10th and 12th February 2014. Results of the investigation have proven that all GLOBALG.A.P. certified products tested are within the limits of maximum contaminants regulated in the EU, furthermore, these values are within expected values for the crop in normal production conditions.

2. Zusammenfassung
Ende 2013 wurde dem GLOBALG.A.P. Sekretariat zugetragen, dass in der italienischen Provinz Campania Boden mit illegal abgeladenem kommunalen und industriellen Mll kontaminiert wurde. Dieser Vorfall ist lokal bekannt als Terra dei fuochi oder Land of fire und ist umfassend in den italienischen Medien diskutiert worden. Die Berichterstattung in den Medien hat in letzter Zeit stark zugenommen, obwohl das Thema bereits seit mehr als 10 Jahren bekannt ist. Hierzu gibt es sowohl umfangreiche Literatur im Internet als auch Pressemitteilungen des Landwirtschaftsministeriums (http://www.politicheagricole.it). GLOBALG.A.P. hat alle italienischen Zertifizierungsstellen informiert und die Firma Food Experts S.L. (wwww.food-experts.com) beauftragt, Proben in der Region zu nehmen, um feststellen zu knnen, ob und in welcher Menge Schwermetalle und Dioxine in der Vielzahl von Produkten nachweisbar sind, die in der betroffenen Region Campania erzeugt werden. Dieser Bericht gibt eine Zusammenfassung ber das Verfahren und die gewonnenen Ergebnisse. Das Rckstands-Monitoring wurde zwischen dem 10. und 12. Februar 2014 durchgefhrt.

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 3 of 10

Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung haben gezeigt, dass alle GLOBALG.A.P. zertifizierten Produkte, die getestet wurden, unterhalb der Grenzwerte fr Rckstandshchstmengen der EU liegen. Darber hinaus befanden sich alle Werte innerhalb der fr die Pflanzen unter normalen Produktionsbedingungen zu erwartenden Werte.

3. BACKGROUND TO THE INVESTIGATION

There are some doubts regarding how residues are being managed during the past years in the Italian region known as Terra dei fuochi. Some media have indicated to have evidences that industrial waste and waste coming from several sources have been disposed of in an uncontrolled way in fields cultivated with a wide range of crops. Some retailers have expressed their concerns and seek re-assurance that GLOBALG.A.P. Certified products are not affected, and that there are no certified producers working on contaminated fields/areas. It was confirmed from several sources that the problem is limited to certain provinces and certain municipalities within the Campania region. Not all of Campania is affected, only the area between the provinces of Napoli and Caserta (which is inside the Campania region). The main areas affected are Naples and Caserta. In the GLOBALG.A.P. database there are almost 40 certificates including 9 producer groups in Caserta (CE) and almost 30 certificates including 4 producer groups in the Napoli (NA) area. In December 2014, GLOBALG.A.P. has notified all CBs operating in Italy. The communication describing the situation highlighted the danger. The CBs are asked to declare that they are aware of the problem and have taken into consideration the increased risk when certifying producers in this region. Furthermore, they are informed that GLOBALG.A.P. will start independent produce sampling. Additionally, GLOBALG.A.P. has notified BRC and IFS as well. FoodExperts S.L. has been commissioned by GLOBALG.A.P. to carry out an on-site independent sampling exercise in the affected area to investigate if there are contaminant residues in the produce.

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 4 of 10

INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
The procedure that has been followed by GLOBALG.A.P. and Food Experts was: 1. Identification of all producers and producer groups situated in the affected area. 2. GLOBALG.A.P. has request all Certification Bodies with producers in the affected area: 2.1. To investigate this issue with the producers and in their audits 2.2. To inform all producers about the Food Experts independent sampling exercise. 3. Food Experts has done a selection of producers to be sampled based on a risk assessment of the crops present on the fields, producer structure and producer location. 4. Food Experts has requested the appropriate certification body the contact details and grower list for each certificate holder selected. 5. Food Experts has selected for this job an independent sample taker from the north of Italy to guarantee full independency and minimise conflict of interests and pressures by producers/local powers. 6. The Food Experts sample taker has visited the selected producers and taken samples from the locations where he thinks is the highest risk. In no case has a sample prepared by the producer been accepted.

4. SAMPLING ON-SITE
There is no specific literature regarding heavy metals and dioxins bio-concentration and absorbing rates by the different crops. So a wide range of crops have been analysed in order to get representative data for the whole affected area as well as to obtain samples from different crops in order to detect possible problems with a specific crop due to its natural physiology. The samples were taken in presence of the grower and/or the producer group representative. A sampling form was filled out for each sample taken and the producer was asked to sing the sampling form. Localisation of the sampling point, grower, varieties and further sampling details were recorded and pictures were taken.

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 5 of 10

In total 18 samples from 18 different growers have been taken. Ten of the producers sampled where part of 4 different producer groups and the other eight are individual producers. Samples have been taken from nine different locations (Caivano, Grumo Nevano, Somma Vesuviana, Capua, Lusicano, Maddaloni, Mondragone and Perete) all within the affected area. The products sampled are: cauliflowers, broccolis, oranges, mandarins, strawberries, lettuces, kohlrabies, potatoes, apples, kiwis and rocket (rucola). One lettuce and one kohlrabi were additionally analysed for dioxins.

Sampling Date
10/02/2014 10/02/2014 10/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 12/02/2014 12/02/2014

Product
Cauliflower Broccoli Oranges Strawberries Potatoes Potatoes Apples Kiwi fruit Lettuce Kohlrabi Lettuce Strawberries Strawberries Kohlrabi Oranges Mandarins Rucola Rucola

Option
1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1

City
Mondragone (CE) Mondragone (CE) Capua (CE) Parete (CE) Maddaloni (CE) Maddaloni (CE) Somma Vesuviana (NA) Somma Vesuviana (NA) Parete (CE) Parete (CE) Parete (CE) Grumo Nevano (NA) Lusicano (CE) Grumo Nevano (NA) Maddaloni (CE) Maddaloni (CE) Caivano (NA) Caivano (NA)

CB
SGS CSQA CSQA CSQA Certiquality Certiquality Certiquality Certiquality CSQA CSQA CSQA NFS CMi NFS CMi Bioagricert Bioagricert Bioagricert Certiquality Certiquality

Sampling Point
Field Packhouse Field Field Packhouse Packhouse Packhouse Packhouse Field Field Packhouse Field Field Field Packhouse Packhouse Field Field

ANALYTICAL SCREEN
HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS+DIOXINES HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS+DIOXINES HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS HEAVY METALS

5. ANALYSIS
Analyses were performed by Silliker Italy S.p.A., a laboratory located in Prato and accredited under ISO 17025 by ACCREDIA for Heavy Metals Residue Analysis as well as for Dioxins-content determination. Samples have been identified and sent to the laboratory following FoodExperts procedures. A double blind system was used: The laboratory does not know where the sample comes from and

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 6 of 10

the supplier does not know where the samples are sent for analysis. Sampling bags are only identified with the sample code, which links to the sampling form signed by the producer. In samples analysed for heavy metals, contents of the most important anthropologic contamination-indicative heavy metals have been determined: mercury, cadmium and lead. Mercury accumulates mainly in the kidneys and excretion by animal-bodies occurs slowly. This heavy metal is a poison element with a wide range of toxic consequences. Its presence is normally restricted to some contaminated ecosystems (as for example the marine ecosystems) and to determinate areas where mercury has been used by the industry. Thus it is not expected to find mercury in the samples taken because no important mercury-user industry is or was present close to the affected area. Residues of this heavy metal can only be explained trough anthropological activities. Lead absorption may constitute a serious risk to health and can cause reduced cognitive and intellectual development of children and cardiovascular diseases in adults. Lead bio-accumulation potential is very high, thus its concentration in plants and animals increases along the trophic chain. Lead is present in all ecosystems. It is a widely spread environmental contaminant due to the intensive use of fuels, dyes, batteries and other mercury containing products during the past 50 years. Thus it is expected to find low concentrations of lead in the produce samples taken. Cadmium is an environmental matter with aftermath on human health due to its high bioaccumulation potential. Cadmium excretion by animal-bodies is very slow and it accumulates mainly in the liver and in the renal cortex. Low cadmium-contents can be expected to be find in the produce samples since it is naturally widely distributed. High values of any of these three heavy metals in vegetables could only be explained through anthropological activities and would be an indicator of bad practices regarding waste management and other contamination sources, especially by mercury and lead since cadmium high levels could also be explained as part of natural processes such as volcanism. Two samples have been analysed for dioxins. Dioxins are a group of persistent environmental contaminants that accumulate along the trophic chain, mainly in adipose animals tissues. Dioxins are by-products of incomplete combustions in presence of chlorine and are mainly produced during industrial processes and during waste-burning, this is a good indicator of human industrialised activity.

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 7 of 10

6. RESULTS
1.1. Heavy Metals Eighteen samples were analysed for heavy metals. No heavy metal residues were reported in 44% of the samples tested. Values reported where checked against EU legislation set for contaminants Regulation 1881/2006. 1.1.1. Mercury No mercury-residues have been detected in samples taken during this investigation. 1.1.2. Lead Lead residues above the limit of detection (LOD) were reported in 50% of the samples tested. No lead residue above the EU-MRL have been detected. The higher values (0,043 and 0,067 mg/kg) were detected in two Rucola-samples taken in Caivano (Naples). In average per product, the higher values were detected in Rucola followed by Broccoli, Cauliflower and Lettuce. Leafy vegetables have, in general, resulted in higher residue values, most probably because of the lower ratio of water content (compared with fruits). In addition to this, volatile lead-pollutants are known to be transported through dust and thus it is effectively deposited on leaves because its high specific surface (surface per bulk-unit). Regarding Brassicaceae tested (Broccoli and Cauliflower), research done on Arabidopsis thaliana (most studied Brasicaceae plant) indicates that this family has a high capacity of absorbing some heavy metals due to the presence of sulphur-transporter (Song et al. 2010). This could explain why lead-values detected in tested Brasicaceae are among the highest. Lead residues detected have NOT exceeded either the guideline-values and are generally low values that can be explained by the generalized environmental contamination. Thus there are no indications to suspect there might be any additional source of contamination in the fields sampled.

Sampling Date
10/02/2014 10/02/2014 10/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014

Product
Cauliflower Broccoli Oranges Apples Kiwi fruit Kohlrabi Kohlrabi

CB
SGS CSQA CSQA Certiquality Certiquality CSQA Bioagricert

Lead detected (mg/kg)

0,017 0,033 ----0,008 0,008 ---

MRL (mg/Kg)
0,3 0,3 ----0,1 0,3 ---

% LMR
6% 11% ----8% 3% ---

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 8 of 10

11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 12/02/2014 12/02/2014

Lettuce Lettuce Mandarins Oranges Potatoes Potatoes Strawberries Strawberries Strawberries Rucola Rucola

CSQA CSQA Bioagricert Bioagricert Certiquality Certiquality CSQA NFS CMi NFS CMi Certiquality Certiquality

0,011 0,012 ----0,007 --------0,043 0,067

0,1 0,1 ----0,1 --------0,1 0,1

11% 12% ----7% --------43% 67%

1.1.3. Cadmium Cadmium-residues above the limit of detection were reported in 33% of the samples tested. No cadmium residues have been reported above the EU legislation. The higher residues were detected in potatoes (0,083 mg/kg) and rucola (0,046 and 0,036 mg/kg). Again, leafy-vegetables tend to have higher values of residues due their lower water-content and high specific-surface. This could explain results detected in Rucola and Lettuce. The fact that the potatoes are directly in touch with the earth could explain a higher cadmium absorption. Yet, potatoes analyses have been performed after cleaning and peeling them in accordance with EU Regulation.

Sampling Date
10/02/2014 10/02/2014 10/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014

Product
Cauliflower Broccoli Oranges Apples Kiwi fruit Kohlrabi Kohlrabi Lettuce Lettuce Mandarins Oranges Potatoes Potatoes

CB
SGS CSQA CSQA Certiquality Certiquality CSQA Bioagricert CSQA CSQA Bioagricert Bioagricert Certiquality Certiquality

Cadmium detected (mg/kg)

--------------0,019 0,023 ----0,083 0,015

MRL (mg/Kg)
--------------0,2 0,2 ----0,1 0,1

% LMR
--------------10% 12% ----83% 15%

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 9 of 10

11/02/2014 11/02/2014 11/02/2014 12/02/2014 12/02/2014

Strawberries Strawberries Strawberries Rocket, Rucola Rocket, Rucola

CSQA NFS CMi NFS CMi Certiquality Certiquality

------0,046 0,036

------0,2 0,2

------23% 18%

1.2. Dioxines Two samples were also additionally tested for dioxins. Dioxin residues in foodstuffs are regulated by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of December 2006, although it does not set limits for Dioxins on vegetables and fruits. Nevertheless, there are guideline values for fruits and vegetables given by the commission recommendation of 3th December 2013 on the reduction of the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in feed and food. Dioxin is a family which includes several compounds. Limits are fixed for following parameters: Sum of dioxins (WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ) Sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBS (WHO-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ) Sum of PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180 (ICES 6)

Product

Lettuce

Kohlrabi

Guidance-value applicable

Sampling Date CB Sum of dioxins (WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ) Sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (WHO-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ) Sum of PCB28,PCB52,PCB101,PCB138,PCB153 and PCB180 (ICES 6)

11/02/2014 CSQA 0 0,0000509 pg/g 0,00087 pg/g

11/02/2014 Bioagricert 0 0,0001335 pg/g 0,00258 pg/g 0,3 pg/g 0,1 pg/g -

According to the results reported, the products tested are widely within the limits recommended for Dioxin content and there are no apparent indicators that should raise concerns regarding the safety of the GLOBALG.A.P. products tested. ----///----

Report on Monitoring of Heavy Metals and Dioxines in Campania Region

Page 10 of 10

Contact: Mr. Andras Fekete Director Compliance fekete@globalgap.org GlobalG.A.P. Secretariat

----///----