Dioxins and PCBs

Ensure the safety and compliance of your food and feed products by taking advantage of our accredited analysis of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Our advanced testing services help you meet stringent EU regulations, reduce health risks, and maintain consumer trust.

Key services

  • Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs) – all 17 toxic congeners
  • Dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) – 12 PCB congeners with WHO-assigned toxic equivalent factors
  • Non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) – 6 indicator congeners (ICES6-PCBs)
  • Total PCB analysis – all 209 congeners, in line with California Proposition 65 and GOED standards
  • TEQ calculation – based on WHO(2005)-TEF and optionally WHO(2022)-TEF, other TEF-systems on request
  • Accredited methods – according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018

Additional services

Beyond standard testing, Eurofins Food & Feed Testing also offers:

  • Analysis of biota, water, soil, sediments, materials, chemicals, and human samples (e.g. breast milk, blood)
  • Monitoring programmes for food and feed producers
  • Consultation and data evaluation for regulatory compliance and risk assessment
  • Customised reporting for specific regulatory frameworks (e.g. US EPA Method 1668)

Dioxins and PCBs: how are they classified

Dioxins – toxic legacy of industrial processes

Dioxins, or polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs), are a group of highly toxic, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) formed as unintentional by-products in industrial and combustion processes involving chlorine. Of the 210 known congeners, 17 are particularly toxic, with 2,3,7,8-TCDD being the most toxic, classified as carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dioxins are chemically and thermally stable, fat-soluble, and resistant to biological degradation. As a result, they accumulate in the food chain – mainly in meat, eggs, dairy products, fish and shellfish – posing long-term health risks to humans through dietary exposure.

PCBs – Industrial chemicals with lasting impact

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 synthetic chlorinated compounds that were widely used in industrial applications. Although banned in many countries, they persist in the environment and food chain, where they accumulate, particularly in animals. In recent years, it has also been found that PCBs can be formed as unwanted by-products in industrial processes. Of the 209 congeners, 12 show toxicological properties similar to dioxins and are classified as dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs), while the remaining are referred to as non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs). Both types pose significant health risks, including endocrine disruption, immune system impairment and potential carcinogenicity. Due to their widespread historical use and environmental persistence, PCBs remain a critical focus of food and feed safety monitoring.

Your Competence Centre for POPs

At the Eurofins Competence Centre for dioxins and PCBs, we combine decades of experience with cutting-edge technology to deliver:

  • Analysis in nearly every matrix including food and feed, biota, environmental matrices, chemical and consumer products
  • Analysis in compliance with EU requirements using GC-MS/MS or GC/HRMS-techniques
  • Regulatory expertise
  • Rapid turnaround times and tailored customer service
  • Continuous innovation, e.g. automatisation of sample preparation

Legal bases and guidelines

Get in touch

Would you like to find out more about our testing solutions, or do you need tailored analytical support? Contact us today to get in touch with our experts.

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