What is EURL POPs?

In this Guidance Document on the Estimation of LOQ for Measurements in the Field of Contaminants in Feed and Food of 2022 the four EURLs working in the field of contaminants - EURL for metals and nitrogenous compounds (MN), EURL for mycotoxins and plant toxins (MP), EURL for processing contaminants (PC) and EURL for halogenated POPs in feed and food (POPs - aim to describe, in a joint document, one recommended and generally applicable approach for estimation of LOQ. Other approaches may then be used only for sound reasons, e.g. if required by EU legislation or in case of elevated background levels.

This interlaboratory study (ILS) on the determination of several brominated contaminants (BCons), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and chlorinated paraffins (CPs) in fish oil is organized by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between May and September 2022 (first deadline, closed), April 2023 (second deadline) and until October 2023 (third round). The objective is to characterize a quality control material for method development purpose and quality control during routine analysis. Therefore up to five sets of results for all analyte groups can be reported until each deadline using the same or different methods. In addition, the focus is on the assessment of intra- and interlaboratory comparability of results from PBDEs, HBCDDs, TBBPA, eBFRs, PBDD/Fs, PXDD/Fs, PCNs and CPs in two fish oil samples. As a second exercise ready to measure solutions of CP technical mixtures are prepared to assess intra- and interlaboratory comparability of CP results. Laboratories performing CP analysis, or even just starting to analyse CPs, are encouraged to submit at least total CP results for fish oil and technical mixture samples. Official laboratories, research laboratories, universities and commercial laboratories performing the analysis of samples taken by food business operators are invited to participate in this interlaboratory study.

This proficiency test (PT) on the determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in milk powder is organized by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between February and April 2023. The objective is to assess analytical performance of laboratories and inter-laboratory comparability of results from analyses of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in one sample of milk powder. National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food from EU member states are requested to participate as part of their work programme for 2023. NRLs are invited to encourage the participation of Official Laboratories (OFLs) from their member states as part of their duties following Article 101 of regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017. Furthermore, participation of OFLs will allow the extension of the data basis for calculation of assigned values and evaluation of results. Official laboratories and commercial laboratories performing the analysis of samples taken by food business operators are invited to participate in this interlaboratory study.