Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D9 / Sweden / Baltic Sea
| Report type | Member State report to Commission |
| MSFD Article | Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates) |
| Report due | 2020-10-15 |
| GES Descriptor | D9 Contaminants in seafood |
| Member State | Sweden |
| Region/subregion | Baltic Sea |
| Reported by | Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management Gullbergs Strandgata 15, 411 04 Göteborg Box 11930, |
| Report date | 2020-10-16 |
| Report access |
Descriptor |
D9 |
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Monitoring strategy description |
According to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 on the establishment of maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs, Sweden is required to monitor concentrations of such substances in foodstuffs from the sea which are likely to cause harm by consumption. Based on the Swedish Food Agency's risk assessment based on the concentrations of substances in the environment and human consumption habits, only dioxins and PCBs in fatty fish from the Baltic Sea pose a risk of impact on humans. These are thus included in the ongoing food control, but through the ongoing monitoring of hazardous substances in biota (fish and mussels) for D8, a basis is also provided for a monitoring of foodstuff for other substances and in other areas. The purpose of the monitoring is thus to produce a basis for assessment, consumption advice and control activities regarding hazardous substances in food from the sea, in relation to established threshold values for consumption. Monitoring of inputs and activities that cause the inputs of hazardous substances is included in the monitoring strategy for Hazardous Substances (D8) through the monitoring programs concerning the inputs of pollutants from land and atmosphere and oil spills. |
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Coverage of GES criteria |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
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Gaps and plans |
"Based on the Swedish Food Agency's survey of hazardous substances in fish and other marine foods from the North Sea, which shows concentrations below current thresholds, the agency has made a risk assessment and assessed that regular monitoring under the food legislation of hazardous substances in fish and other marine foods from the North Sea is not necessary. Oily fish from the Baltic Sea, on the other hand, are regularly monitored with regard to the risk assessment. Sweden therefore consider that the current control program meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006.
To support the Swedish Food Agency's risk assessment, data from the ongoing monitoring of hazardous substances in biota (D8) throughout Sweden's sea area is also used. Concentrations of hazardous substances are not always measured in the same animal species or organ tissues for which the thresholds are set, but by conversion factors the concentrations can be converted to levels of hazardous substances according to descriptor 9 (measured in fish muscle in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006).
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Related targets |
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Coverage of targets |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
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Related measures |
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Coverage of measures |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
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Related monitoring programmes |
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Programme code |
SE-D8D9-biota |
SE-D9-musselcontrol |
SE-D9-seafood |
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Programme name |
Contaminant levels - in biota |
Microbial pathogen levels - in biota (seafood) |
Contaminant levels - in seafood |
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Update type |
Modified from 2014 |
New programme |
Modified from 2014 |
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Old programme codes |
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Programme description |
Examples of animals that ingest hazardous substances are mussels, fish and seabirds. By measuring concentrations of hazardous substances in samples from these animals, the contaminant load in a sea basin can be reflected. The purpose of the national monitoring is to monitor how the levels of a number of hazardous substances vary over time at selected stations and between stations in reference areas (areas unaffected by local sources) in order to monitor the effects of bans and restrictions on emissions and to generate representative reference values for regional and local hazardous substances studies. Parts of the material collected are saved in the Swedish Museum of Natural History's environmental specimen bank for future retrospective analyzes of currently both known and unknown substances.
When analyzing mussels, perch and eelpout, which are stationary species, the hazardous substances load is reflected in a smaller, delimited area, while the analyzes of cod and herring, which move over larger areas, better reflect the general load in a larger area.
With the national monitoring, we aim to monitor large-scale changes and diffuse impacts, for example via long-distance transport, and consequently the sampling stations are located so that they are as far as possible unaffected by local emissions. This makes the results suitable for use as reference sites for the local monitoring. The local monitoring is carried out in more affected areas adjacent to cities, ports, industries, sewage treatment plants or estuaries.
The monitoring started in 1968 in the Baltic Sea and in 1979 in the North Sea.
An extra collection of mussels also takes place approximately every five years in a reference network along large parts of Sweden's coast that enables analysis of oil-related substances before and after a discharge. |
The purpose of the monitoring is to check before harvest in aquacultures that the mussels and oysters are safe to eat with regard to algal toxins and pathogens. At present, algal toxins and the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) are measured. E. coli acts as an indicator of possible contamination of pathogens. E. coli is normally found in the faeces of humans but also in other warm-blooded animals, but should not normally be found in the sea. High levels of E. coli in mussels are thus a sign that the water is polluted, and then there is a risk that there may also be other bacteria or viruses in the mussels that can be harmful to humans. If the levels rise above the limit values, the current production area in the sea will be closed and harvesting may not take place until the mussels in the area no longer contain levels that exceed the current limit values. The control programme complies with EU regulations and control must be carried out in a similar way in all Member States. |
Organic pollutants in the marine environment can be absorbed into organisms and stored in adipose tissue. There is therefore a risk that hazardous substances are accumulated in fish, especially in oily fish. Dioxin and PCBs are mainly found in oily fish such as herring, wild salmon and trout from the Baltic Sea. To monitor levels of hazardous substances, fish intended for human consumption are sampled annually in a national control programme. The purpose of the monitoring is to obtain a basis for assessing the levels of dioxins and PCBs in different fish species from different areas of the Baltic Sea in relation to the applicable limit values regulated by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 laying down maximum levels for certain contaminants in food. Furthermore, the control programme aims to provide a basis for the National Food Agancy's Consumer recommendations.
In addition to food control, monitoring of hazardous substances in biota is also carried out, which includes more species and substances and also covers the North Sea. These data complement the food control and provide a basis for the risk assessment that underlies the design of the food control. |
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Monitoring purpose |
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Other policies and conventions |
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Regional cooperation - coordinating body |
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Regional cooperation - countries involved |
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Regional cooperation - implementation level |
Coordinated data collection |
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Monitoring details |
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Features |
Contaminants - non UPBT substances
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Contaminants - UPBT substances
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Adverse effects on species or habitats
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Contaminants – in seafood
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Adverse effects on species or habitats
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Contaminants - non UPBT substances
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Contaminants – in seafood
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Elements |
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GES criteria |
D8C1 |
D8C1 |
D8C4 |
D9C1 |
NotRelevan |
D8C1 |
D9C1 |
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Parameters |
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Parameter Other |
CONC-B-total - Mytilus edulis |
CONC-B-egg - Sterna hirundo CONC-B-egg - Haematopu |
CONC-B-liver -Perca fluviatilis |
CONC-B-muscle- Clupea harengus CONC-B-egg - Stern |
CONC-B-total - Mytilus edulis |
CONC-B-egg - Sterna hirundo CONC-B-egg - Haematopu |
CONC-B-muscle- Clupea harengus CONC-B-muscle -Gad |
CONC-B-liver -Perca fluviatilis |
Concentrations of hazardous substances in Mytilus |
CONC-B-total - Mytilus edulis CONC-B-muscle- Clupe |
CONC-B-muscle- Clupea harengus |
Additional information collected: Abundance of tox |
CONC-B-total - Mytilus edulis CONC-B-muscle -Perca |
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Spatial scope |
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Marine reporting units |
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Temporal scope (start date - end date) |
1968-9999 |
2001-9999 |
2003-9999 |
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Monitoring frequency |
Yearly |
2-weekly |
Yearly |
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Monitoring type |
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Monitoring method |
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Monitoring method other |
"https://www.havochvatten.se/hav/vagledning--lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/undersokningstyper-for-miljoovervakning/undersokningstyper/metaller-och-organiska-miljogifter-i-blamussla.html
https://www.havochvatten.se/hav/vagledning--lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/undersokningstyper-for-miljoovervakning/undersokningstyper/metaller-och-organiska-miljogifter-i-fisk.html
https://www.havochvatten.se/hav/vagledning--lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/undersokningstyper-for-miljoovervakning/undersokningstyper/metaller-och-organiska-miljogifter-i-agg-av-sillgrissla.html" |
The sampling of mussels and oysters for analysis of bacteria takes place at fixed stations in a production area. Other sampling is randomized. Sampling is performed by samplers and takes place according to the National Food Administration's special instructions. The instructions contain, among other things, information on how many mussels must be collected and at what water depth the collection is to take place. Sampling takes place at three water depths for cultivated mussels because the levels of bacteria and toxins can differ at different depths. In the case of wild mussels, the sampling is spread around the sampling point. The control does not take place in the same way for all species but is adapted to differences between the species. For example, some species absorb more algal toxins than others.
Personnel who want to harvest mussels or oysters in a production area contact the National Food Administration and announce that they wish to have sampling carried out in the specific production area. The personnel carry out the largest proportion of the sampling themselves, but sample handling and handling of analysis results are done by the National Food Administration. Sampling must last for at least two weeks with an approved result before the area can be opened and harvested. Sampling continues as long as the harvest takes place.
Sampling of phytoplankton for quantitative analysis is done with a hose from the surface down to a depth of 10 meters or shallower if the depth is less than 12 m. In addition, sampling is done with a net (10 µm mesh size) for the same depth range. Secchi depth is also measured in the surface water during sampling.
Analysis of levels of toxins in mussels and oysters is done using chemical methods. Bacteria are analyzed by culture. Algae samples are analyzed using an inverted microscope according to the Utermöhl method 1958 (modified and accredited) and with the so-called Calcofluor method (Andersen 2010). |
lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/undersokningstyper-for-miljoovervakning/undersokningstyper/metaller-och-organiska-miljogifter-i-blamussla.html
https://www.havochvatten.se/hav/vagledning--lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/undersokningstyper-for-miljoovervakning/undersokningstyper/metaller-och-organiska-miljogifter-i-fisk.html
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/SV/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32017R0644&from=EN |
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Quality control |
Quality checks are carried out continuously and extra checks are made when changing equipment or standard solutions, etc. The analysis quality at the analysis laboratory is monitored by analyzing control samples and entering the results in control charts. The control samples consist of a sample from a very large homogenate (which is therefore sufficient for a long time) of comparable tissue that is always included in the analysis of new material. When changing the analysis method or laboratory, extensive parallel analyzes take place. Suspected analysis errors have been the subject of special analysis efforts. The chemical analyzes are performed by Swedac-accredited laboratories and authorities with long experience of analysis of biological material. The quality assurance routines look different at different laboratories. Quality assurance is also provided through participation in the international test comparison Quasimeme. For details, we refer to the instructions of each laboratory. |
According to Commission Decision 98/536 / EC, each EU country has a National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for the control of marine algal toxins and one for viral and bacterial contamination of bivalve molluscs, and the National Food Administration is the NRL for both areas of responsibility.
Important tasks for the NRL are to support the laboratories that participate in public control, with expertise in new analysis technology and sampling, and to contribute to the laboratories using approved analysis methods and that these are performed with sufficient accuracy.
All analyzes of E. coli and algal toxins in mussels and oysters as well as poison-producing phytoplankton in seawater are performed by laboratories contracted by the National Food Administration. One of the requirements for being contracted is that the laboratories are Swedac-accredited in accordance with ISO 17025. |
Insamling utförs av förordnade provtagare. Kemiska analyser utförs vid laboratorier som är Swedac-ackrediterade enligt ISO 17025. Provtagning och de analysmetoder som används ska uppfylla de krav som ställs i EU-kommissionens förordning om provtagnings- och analysmetoder för offentlig kontroll av...
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Data management |
Analysis data for metals and organic environmental toxins in marine biota from the national monitoring are stored at the Swedish Geological Survey, SGU, which is the national data host for hazardous substances. Data will be available via a WMS service and can be downloaded free of charge. Data collected up to 2014 can be downloaded from IVL's database for hazardous substances. Data from the national monitoring are also reported to ICES. |
The most recently published annual report on the control programme for bivalve molluscs was published by the National Food Agency in 2014, and can be downloaded on their website. The National Food Agency is currently investigating how to make their data publically available. |
Data finns lagrade hos Livsmedelsverket och även hos europeiska livsmedelssäkerhetsmyndigheten EFSA, men är inte tillgängliga via internet. Data rapporteras årligen till EFSA i enlighet med ett standardiserat rapporteringsformat med provbeskrivning, Standard Sample Description. Livsmedelsverket p...
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Data access |
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Related indicator/name |
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Contact |
miljoovervakning@havochvatten.se |
miljoovervakning@havochvatten.se |
miljoovervakning@havochvatten.se |
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References |
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