Revision or setting of maximum (limit values) and action levels in foodstuffs

In the middle of 2011 the "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" in Brussels decided on the revision of the maximum levels for dioxins/furans and dioxin-like PCBs as well as for the first time for non-dioxin-like PCBs in various foodstuffs. Here are the important changes which have been made:

• revision of the maximum and action levels for dioxins/furans and dioxin-like PCBs
• transition of the WHO toxicity equivalent factors to WHO 2005 (until now WHO-TEF 1998)
• for the first time fixing of maximum levels for non-dioxin-like PCBs

These regulations are legally binding since 1 January 2012

We have prepared pdf documents with tables showing the new action levels and maximum levels for foodstuffs for you.

What has changed ?

The changes of the action and maximum levels for dioxins/furans and dioxin-like PCBs are mainly based on the transition of the toxicity equivalent factors (TEF) from 1998 to 2005. Moreover, in some cases a more differentiated classification of some products or food products was made. For the first time maximum levels in foodstuffs for infants and young children were set. The EU-uniform maximum levels for the non-dioxin-like PCBs (ICES- 6) are also new.

The change of maximum and action levels of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in feed planned at the same time will be presumably published in the Official Journal of the European Union in March 2012 at the earliest.

The Competence Centre for the analysis of POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants), the Eurofins GfA Lab Service GmbH looks back on many years of experience in the analysis of dioxins/furans and PCBs in food and feed. Our portfolio comprises the whole range of mentioned parameters with the stipulated methods of analysis, quality criteria and quality assurance measures.

Apart from the analysis for dioxins/furans and PCBs, the Eurofins GfA Lab Service GmbH offers you of course also the analysis of numerous other residues and contaminants (POPs) and within the Eurofins Group we are also able to offer the whole spectrum of food and feed analyses, microbiology, sensoric and the legal assessment of your products. For this it is essential that you inform us on the exact matrix of examination. For further information please contact our team dioxins@eurofins.de or your personal customer contact.

Rebekka Arkudas
Leitung Kundenbetreuung und Vertrieb

Eurofins GfA Lab Service GmbH
Tel.: +49 (0) 2534 807 159
Fax: +49 (0) 2534 807 310