News

26.01.2024

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.

18.12.2023

This proficiency test (PT) on the determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFAS in Bovine Meat is organized by the EURL for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food to be performed between February and April 2024. The objective is to assess analytical performance of laboratories and inter-laboratory comparability of results from analyses of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFAS in one sample of Bovine Meat. 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 food business operators are invited to participate in this interlaboratory study.

12.06.2023

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.

05.06.2023

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.

10.05.2023

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.

23.12.2022

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.

16.12.2022

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.

14.11.2022

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.

18.09.2022

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.

26.08.2022

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.

11.05.2022

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.

20.04.2022

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.

20.09.2021

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.

14.02.2018

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.

03.05.2017

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.

03.08.2016

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).

Downloads

EURL POPs provides several documents as scientific output of its work as free downloads. Forwarding and reproduction of these documents is permitted as entire document, not excerpts. Instructions and/or reports of proficiency tests and interlaboratory studies may be restricted to the participants of these exercises; respective passwords will be provided along with the individual laboratory code.

IMPORTANT!!! Please right-click the button and use the "Save As" option to save the document to your local computer. Open it with a common PDF reader (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader) to access the attachments.

Announcement - Proficiency Test on the Determination of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDDs and PFAS in Bovine Meat 2024 March 2024
EURL PT POP Milk Powder 2023 PFASs February 2024
EURL Comparative study br-PFOS 2023 February 2024
EURL PT POP Milk Powder 2023 Report PCDD-F and PCB January 2024
EURL PT POP Fish Meal 2022 Report PFASs August 2023
EURL PT POP Fish Meal 2022 Report PBDEs and HBCDDs July 2023
EURL PT POP Fish Meal 2022 Report PCDD-F and PCB June 2023
Guidance Document on the Determination of Organobromine Contaminants Annex B May 2023
Guidance Document on the Determination of Organobromine Contaminants May 2023
EURL-NRL POPs Priority List of PCN congeners March 2023
Technical Guidance for PTs v1.2 February 2023
Guidance Document on Estimation of LOQ for Measurements in the Field of Contaminants in Feed and Food 2022 December 2022
Second Announcement - Interlaboratory Study (ILS) on the Determination of Brominated Contaminants, PCNs and CPs in Fish Oil 2022/23 December 2022
EURL PT Dried Citrus Pulp 2021 Report PBDEs and HBCDDs (v1.1) December 2022
EURL PT POP Pork Liver 2022 Report PFAS November 2022
EURL PT POP Pork Liver 2022 Report PBDE and HBCDD November 2022
EURL PT POP Pork Liver 2022 Report PCDD-F and PCB November 2022
EURL PT PFAS Liquid Whole Egg 2021 - Honey results September 2022
EURL PT PFAS Liquid Whole Egg 2021 September 2022
EURL ILS Cod Liver Oil 2021 Report August 2022
Guidance on Analytical Parameters for the Determination of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - Annex May 2022
Guidance on Analytical Parameters for the Determination of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) May 2022
Guidance Document on the Determination of Organobromine Contaminants Annex A April 2022
EURL PT Dried Citrus Pulp 2021 Report PCDD-F and PCB April 2022
EURL PT CP 2103-IF final report March 2022
EURL PT Baby Food 2021 Report PBDE HBCDD August 2021
EURL PT Baby Food 2021 Report PCDD-F and PCB July 2021
Guidance Document on CP analysis v1.9 June 2021
EURL PT 2003-FF Report PBDE and HBCDD March 2021
EURL PT 2003-FF Report PCDD-F and PCB March 2021
EURL PT DP 2002-MF Report Bioassay March 2021
EURL PT POP 2001-FI Report CP eBFR November 2020
EURL PT POP 2001-FI Report PCDD-F and PCB November 2020
EURL PT POP 2001-FI Report PFAS September 2020
EURL PT POP 2001-FI Report PBDE HBCDD September 2020
EURL PT Wheat Flour September 2019
Guidance Document Measurement Uncertainty - PCDD/Fs and PCBs May 2017
Guidance Document on Estimation of LOD and LOQ for Measurements in the Field of Contaminants in Feed and Food 2016 December 2016
EURL Recommendation for extraction procedures December 2007