Dioxins and PCBs

Dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants. They form in combustion processes or come from legacy industrial products, are fat-soluble and accumulate in the food chain. Human exposure comes mainly from food, especially fatty foods of animal origin, which is why EU law sets maximum levels for food and feed.

What we test

Testing covers dioxins and furans (PCDD/F), dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCB) and non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCB), represented by the six indicator congeners (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180). Results for dioxins and DL-PCBs are expressed as toxic equivalents (TEQ) using the WHO toxic equivalency factors and upper-bound concentrations (values below the limit of quantification are taken as equal to it), as the legislation requires.

Typical matrices are foods of animal origin (meat, fish, milk and dairy products, eggs, animal fats), vegetable oils and other foods of plant origin, as well as feed and feed ingredients.

Regulatory framework

• Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food
• Directive 2002/32/EC on undesirable substances in animal feed
• Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 – general principles of food law

How we work

Tell us the product and the purpose of the testing (own checks, export, supplier verification), and we will confirm the method, the sample quantity needed and the reporting time. Results are issued in a test report. For details and a quotation, contact an ICA R&D representative.