Developing and disseminating methods for determination of analytes
EURL POPs About us
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 PCBs, dioxins, brominated flame retardants, PFASs, 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.
The overall objective of the EURLs and National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) as described in Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council is to improve the quality, accuracy and comparability of the results at the official control laboratories (OfLs). To that end, one of the core tasks of the EURL POPs is to organise proficiency testing schemes for the appointed NRLs within its area of competence.
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EURL POPs supports and provides scientific and technical advice to the European authorities and the NRLs
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Boosting the communication in the EURL/NRL/OfL network
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Strengthening education and training throughout the network
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Addressing knowledge gaps and providing guidance for analytical issues
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Ensuring harmonization in analysis through reference methods, analytical criteria, workshops and proficiency testing
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Assisting NRLs of third countries
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Providing scientific and technical assistance to the European Commission
EURL POPs at the CVUA Freiburg
The EURL POPs is hosted by the State Institute for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis (Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt, CVUA) Freiburg, which is one of the official food control and animal health laboratories in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. The CVUA Freiburg has many years of experience in analytical residue analyses of organo halogenated contaminants in food and human milk at trace levels. For this purpose, the CVUA Freiburg maintains an extensive analytical infrastructure including both automated sample preparation and modern high-resolution mass spectrometers. It is accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 standards since November 1998 and according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043 since 2013. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) appointed CVUA Freiburg as Reference Laboratory for determination of chlorinated and brominated “Stockholm Convention POPs“ in the WHO/UNEP-coordinated exposure studies on human milk performed between 2000 and 2019.
Situated in the Southwest of Germany, right in the heart of Europe, Freiburg can easily be accessed by plane (via EuroAirport Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg), train or car.
