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.

This proficiency test (PT) on the determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDDs in Bentonite is organized by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between July and November 2024. The objective is to assess analytical performance of laboratories and inter-laboratory comparability of results from analyses of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDDs in one sample of Bentonite. 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 2024. 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 feed business operators are invited to participate in this interlaboratory study. First results will be discussed by representatives of European Commission, NRLs and the EURL at the EURL/NRL online workshop in November 2024.

This interlaboratory study (ILS) on the determination of several brominated contaminants (BCons), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs – main constituent of CPs) and per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in Powdered Infant Milk / Formula is organized by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between July and October 2024. The objective is to assess analytical performance of laboratories and interlaboratory comparability of results from analyses of PBDEs, HBCDDs, TBBPA, eBFRs, PBDD/Fs, PXDD/Fs, PBB, PCNs, PCAs and PFAS in a Powdered Infant Milk test material. 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 PFAS in compound feed was organized by European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Feed and Food to be performed between September and November 2023. The objective was to assess analytical performance of laboratories and interlaboratory comparability of results from analyses of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFAS in one sample of compound feed.

This comparative study on the determination of linear (L-PFOS), branched (br-PFOS), and total PFOS in pork liver was organised by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between June and August 2023. The objective was to assess the accuracy of different approaches for quantitation of branched PFOS. All core working group “PFAS” members were invited to participate in this comparative study.

This proficiency test (PT) on the determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in milk powder was organized by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between February and April 2023. 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 milk powder. These reports summarize the assigned values and participants' results, as well as the z-scores for PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in one sample of milk powder.

This proficiency test (PT) on the determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in fish meal was organized by European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Feed and Food to be performed between September and November 2022. 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 fish meal. These reports summarize the assigned values and participants' results, as well as the z-scores for PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in one sample of fish meal.

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.

This document summarizes background information and synthesises of supporting information on the prioritisation of specific PCN congeners in food. It is intended to support laboratories in method development and also to support future assessments with relevant as well as harmonised data. The guidance in this document is intended for laboratories involved in the official control of contaminants in food as part of the EURL’s official mandate and scope of work.

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 proficiency test (PT) on the determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs, PFASs and CPs in pork liver was organized by the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Feed and Food to be performed between February and April 2022. The objective was to assess analytical performance of laboratories and the interlaboratory comparability of results from analyses of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs, PFASs and CPs in one sample of pork liver. These reports summarize the assigned values and participants' results, as well as the z-scores for PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFASs in one sample of pork liver.

This proficiency test (PT) on the determination of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in liquid whole egg (mandatory) and honey (voluntary) was organised by the EURL for halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Feed and Food to be performed between August and October 2021 for liquid whole egg. The objective was to assess analytical performance of laboratories and the interlaboratory comparability of results from analyses of short and long chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and short and long chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids in fortified food samples. These reports summarize the assigned values and participants' results, as well as the z-scores for PFCAs, PFSAs and PFASs sum parameters in two samples of liquid whole egg and one honey sample.

This interlaboratory study (ILS) on the determination of brominated contaminants (BCons) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in cod liver oil was organized by the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Feed and Food to be performed between July and September 2021. The objective was to assess interlaboratory comparability of results from BCons and PCNs in a fortified food sample. This report summarizes the assigned values and participants' results, as well as the z-scores for PBDES, HBCDDs, TBBPA, eBFRs, and PCNs in a sample of cod liver oil.

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.

In the times of a variety of online platforms for managing multi-user contributions, it is important to not only have the analytical know-how but also to understand how to participate in an interlaboratory exercise. EURL POPs uses personalised contribution tokens and messaging on the EUSurvey platform for their exercises. While everyone is getting used to this platform, we have started a collection of helpful guidance for the technical aspects of our proficiency tests and interlaboratory studies, now in its second edition with more detailed explanations on editable contributions.

Given the growing importance of chlorinated persistent contaminants other than PCBs and dioxins, of brominated persistent contaminants and of fluorinated persistent contaminants for the safety of feed and food, the scope of the EU reference laboratory (EURL) for dioxins and PCBs in feed and food was extended to all halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in feed and food. Therefore the EU reference laboratory for dioxins and PCBs in feed and food was renamed in EU reference laboratory for halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in feed and food to reflect this extension of scope (Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/192). The tasks of EURLs are defined by Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

This document on measurement uncertainty was developed within the network of the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food and the respective National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) of member states. Detailed guidance is given on the evaluation of measurement uncertainty in the quantitative analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), to assist laboratories performing official feed and food control within the European Union, especially National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and Official Laboratories (OFLs). It provides useful key elements contributing to further harmonization of compliance assessment and outlines practical aspects related to measurement uncertainty estimation.

The European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (EURL PAH), the EURL for Heavy Metals in Feed and Food (EURL HM), the EURL for Mycotoxins (EURL Mycotoxins), and EURL for Dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food aim to provide with this document guidance to official food control in the EU on the estimation of the limit of quantification of analytical methods for the determination of individual substances in the field of contaminants in feed and food. The document focusses on estimation of the limit of detection (LOD) and/or limit of quantification (LOQ) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, mycotoxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs).