News
2018
Febaruary 2018
Extension of the scope to Halogenated POPs - Renaming of the EURL
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.
2017
May 2017
Guidance Document on Measurement Uncertainty for Laboratories performing PCDD/F and PCB Analysis using Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry
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.
A new concept placing special emphasis on the inclusion of current method performance data is presented. The concept
covers the full analytical process from sample receipt at the laboratory through sample storage, preparation and
analysis, to data processing and reporting. In particular, it focuses on the role of analytical variability
generally known as "measurement uncertainty" (MU) in the interpretation of analytical results for assessment
of their compliance with a specification.
2016
August 2016
Guidance Document on Estimation of LOD and LOQ
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 (HM),
mycotoxins, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
The concept presented consists of two major routes: The first route responds to
the requirements for determination of PAHs, HMs and Mycotoxins. The second route
corresponds to PCDD/F and PCB analysis, where results are calculated as sumparameters
and expressed in toxic equivalents (TEQs), converting thereby congener
concentrations together with estimated LOQs using toxic equivalency factor (TEFs)
into TEQs. Due to the nature of this more complex procedure, emphasis is put in the
area of PCDD/F and PCB analysis on the LOQs, while LODs are of minor consequence.