News archive
2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006
2015
2014
June 2014
Commission Regulations on analytical criteria
Commission Regulations (EU) No 589/2014 of 2 June 2014 laying down methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of levels of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in certain foodstuffs (repealing Regulation (EU) No 252/2012) and No 709/2014 of 20 June 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 as regards the determination of the levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls are published.
2013
October 2013
Commission Regulation on legal limits in liver
Commission Regulation (E) No 1067/2013 of 30 October 2014 amending Regulation (EC) no 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of the contaminants dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in liver of terrestrial animals is published.
2012
July 2012
European Standard EN 16215:2012
The European standard EN 16215:2012 for determination of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs by GC/HRMS and of indicator PCBs by GC/HRMS in animal feeding stuffs is published (www.cen.eu).
March 2012
Commission Regulations on analytical criteria
Commission Regulations (EU) No 252/2012 of 21 March 2012 laying down methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of levels of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in certain foodstuffs (repealing Regulation (EC) No 1883/2006) and No 278/2012 of 28 March 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 as regards the determination of the levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls are published.
March 2012
Commission Regulation on legal limits in Feed
Commission Regulation (EU) No 277/2012 of 28 March 2012 mending Annexes I and II to Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum levels and action thresholds for dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls is published.
2011
December 2011
Commission Regulation on legal limits in Food
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1259/2011 of 2 December 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels for dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs and Commission Recommendation of 23 August 2011 on the reduction of the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in feed and food (2011/516/EU) are published.
2010
June 2010
Standardization of methods
At the request of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN, CEN/TC 327) and in close cooperation of the RIKILT - Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen, Netherlands, the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), York, UK, and the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food a standard for determination of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in animal feed was described. In order to validate this new CEN method a ring trial was organized by the RIKILT - Institute of Food Safety to be accomplished within the EURL/NRL network as well within the CEN network. The objective was to assess the comparibility of results of all relevant parameters (17 PCDD/F, 12 dioxin-like PCBs and 6 indicator PCBs) obtained by the new draft CEN standard in four samples of animal feed and a standard solution.
In addition to the validation of the CEN method, the available data (including results of laboratories using in-house validated methods) was evaluated for checking of the analytical performance of participating laboratories, in particular NRLs, in a proficiency test.
The evaluation of the data was performed in close cooperation of the RIKILT - Institute of Food Safety and the EURL for Dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food.
2009
December 2009
Treaty of Lisbon entered into force
On 1 December 2009 the European Community was replaced by the European Union which succeeds it and takes over all its rights and obligations. As consequence the Community Reference Laboratory for Dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food was re-named as the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Dioxins and PCBs in feed and Food.
August 2009
Analytical Requirments for Determination of NDL-PCBs
The EU Commission has initiated steps to set maximum levels for non dioxin-like PCBs expressed as sum of the six indicator PCBs (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) in certain food samples. Therefore, the CRL was asked to propose criteria for the analytical determination of NDL-PCBs. A working document was discussed at the CRL-NRL workshop, held on November 2008 in Freiburg and presented at the Dioxin conference in Beijing 2009.
August 2009
Proficiency test on the determination of PCDD/Fs and PCP in guar gum and follow-up analyses
In cooperation with the CRL for Single Residue Methods [CRL-SRM] Stuttgart, Germany, the CRL for Dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food organized a proficieny test on the determination of PCDD/F, PCB and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in guar gum samples in 2008. Additionally, further tests due to some elevated levels reported in the PT were performed at the CRL focusing on different extraction techniques and solvents. An overview of this PT and the results were presented at the Dioxin conference in Beijing 2009.
2008
August 2008
The guar gum case: Contamination with PCP and dioxins and analytical problems
A summary of the contamination of guar gum with PCDD/F and PCP, actions taken afterwards and resulting analyticla problems was presented at the Dioxin Conference in Birmingham 2008.
August 2008
Interlaboratory study on the harmonization of extraction procedures
The process of harmonization of extration methods for the determination of PCDD/F in mineral feed, which was initiated with the interlaboratory study on etxraction techniques for sepiolite in 2006, was contionued with an interlaboratory comparison on extraction techniques for fullers earth and mangenese oxide. The results of the interlaboratory study with 23 participating laboratories and additional comprehensive tests at the CRL were presented at the Dioxin conference in Birmingham 2008.
2007
December 2007
Recommendations for extraction procedures for PCDD/Fs and PCBs
The CRL for Dioxins and PCBs in Feed and Food organized two interlaboratory studies on extraction techniques of PCDD/F and PCB in 2006 and 2007 for sepiolite, fullers earth and manganese oxides. Conclusions and recommendations derived from these studies were formally adopted at the CRL/NRL workshop on November 5th, 2007.
September 2007
Harmonization of Extraction Methods for the determination of PCDD/Fs in Sepiolite
The CRL performed a comprehensive study on extraction methods for PCDD/F in sepiolite in 2006, including an interlaboratory stduy withn 17 participating laboratories and further tests at the CRL. The study focused on the different extraction methods and solvents and the pre-treatment of sepiolite before extraction. A summary of the interlaboratory study, the results of the tests at the CRL and conclusions were presented at the Dioxin conference in Tokyo 2007.
August 2007
Contamination of Guar Gum from India with PCP and Dioxins
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission received on 24 July 2007 in the evening a notification from the competent authorities of Switzerland concerning a finding of a serious contamination by dioxins and pentachlorophenol in guar gum originating from India.
2006
October 2006
Harmonization of extraction procedures - Sepiolite
The CRL-NRL workshop was held in Freiburg. The harmonization of extraction procedures for mineral feed additives was one important topic. Therefore an interlaboratory study was organized with NRLs from EU member states and expert laboratories.