13. 2. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 37/1 I (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food . THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (), In cooperation with the European Parliament (3, Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (°), Whereas it is important to adopt measures with the aim _of progressively establishing the internal market over a period expiring on 31 December 1992; whereas the internal market shall comprise an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured ; Whereas the differences in rules adopted by the Member States may hinder the functioning of the common market | and whereas it is necessary to lay down a procedure for the adoption of harmonized Community rules; Whereas contaminants may enter into food at any stage from production to consumption ; Whereas it is essential, in the interest of public health protection, to keep these contaminants at levels which are toxicologically acceptable ; Whereas further elimination must be carried out whenever it is achievable through good working prac- tices ; whereas compliance with such.good practices can be efficiently monitored by public authorities, given the vocational traiing and experience of their agents; Whereas this Regulation must apply without prejudice to the provisions adopted in the context of more specific Community rules ; () OJ No C 57, 4. 3. 1992, p. 11. () OJ No C 129, 20. 5. 1991, p. 104 and Decision of 20 January 1993 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No C 223, 31. 8. 1992, p. 24. Whereas it is appropriate in terms of health protection to encourage the search for a comprehensive approach to the question of contaminants in food ; Whereas the Scientific Committee for Food set up by Decision 74/234/EEC () must be consulted on all ques- tions which may have an effect on public health, " HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 1. This Regulation concerns contaminants contained in food. ’ ‘Contaminant’ means any substance not intentionally added to food which is present in such food as a result of the production (including operations carried out in crop husbandry, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine), manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food, or as a result of environmental contamination. Extraneous matter, such as, for example, insect fragments, animal hair, etc, is not covered by this definition. 2. This Regulatlion shall not apply to contaminants which are the subject of more specific Community rules. Upon the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall publish in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Communities, for the purposes of information, a list of the rules referred to in the first subparagraph. That list shall be updated as appropriate, by the Commission. 3.  Provisions relating to contaminants shall be adopted in accordance with this Regulation, except those laid down by the rules referred to in paragraph 2. () OJ No L 136, 20. 5. 1974, p. 1.