What is EURL POPs?

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.

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) or March 2023 (second deadline). 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.

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 existing analytical methods. It provides guidance on the essential analytical parameters to be used for organobromine contaminant analysis in food and feed and contributes to further harmonization in this field as part of the EURL’s official mandate and scope of work.