The scope of the European Union Reference Laboratory for Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants in Feed and Food (EURL POPs) includes, since it was appointed to an extended scope in 2018, halogenated POPs such as PCDD/Fs, PCBs, brominated flame retardants and contaminants, PFAS, chlorinated paraffins and PCNs in both feed and food. As such, it is one of 25 EURLs in the field of feed and food control appointed by the European Commission.
This proficiency test (PT) on the determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFAS in Bovine Meat was organized by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between February and April 2024. The objective was to assess analytical performance of laboratories and interlaboratory comparability of results from analyses of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in one sample of Bovine Meat.
Analytical methods for determination of PFAS in food of animal origin and food of plant origin developed at the EURL for halogenated POPs / CVUA Freiburg are available here.
This document on analytical parameters for the determination of selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food and feed was developed within the network of the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food, the respective National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) of EU member states and international experts in the field of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) analysis.The guidance in this document is intended for laboratories involved in the official control of contaminants in food and feed and focuses on the determination of these substances in the laboratory. It is intended as general guidance for laboratories and particularly for those that do not have an existing method. It provides useful key elements in a set of analytical parameters contributing to further harmonization in the field of PFAS analysis in food and feed as part of the EURL’s official mandate and scope of work.
The EURL provides proficiency testing for its main target analytes once a year in feed and food samples for the national reference laboratories of EU member states free of charge according to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Other national reference laboratories, official control laboratories and commercial laboratories, performing analysis of samples taken by food or feed business operators, may participate for a fee.
The agenda of the working groups includes several aspects regarding analytical methodologies, practical issues for laboratories to set up methods, proposal for analytical criteria, emerging new contaminants, EFSA opinions and European Commission requests.
The national authorities of each of the 27 member states of the European Union declare National Reference Laboratories working in the scope of their respective EURL. The current addresses and contact data for the NRLs for halogenated POPs in feed and food can be found here.