Ergot alkaloids in feed: Recommendation (EU) 2026/1243 replaces the 2012 recommendation — six epimer pairs by LC-MS/MS with a limit of quantification of at most 5 μg/kg, plus sclerotia content
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1243 of 11 June 2026, published on 15 June, recommends monitoring ergot alkaloids in feed and replaces Recommendation 2012/154/EU. It builds on the EFSA opinion adopted on 30 November 2023, which found that ergot alkaloids in feed pose a health risk to cattle and pigs.
- Minimum analytes: ergocristine/ergocristinine, ergotamine/ergotaminine, ergocryptine/ergocryptinine (α and β isomers), ergometrine/ergometrinine, ergosine/ergosinine and ergocornine/ergocorninine. Ergovaline/ergovalinine (endophyte-infected grasses), agroclavine, dihydroergosine (Claviceps africana — relevant for imported feed) and lolitrem B are also recommended.
- Recommended method: LC-MS/MS with a limit of quantification of 5 μg/kg or lower for each ergot alkaloid; other methods may be used if they give reliable results for individual alkaloids (or epimer pairs). Where possible, the sclerotia content of the sample should be determined to better understand the link between sclerotia and alkaloid levels. Sampling follows Regulation (EC) No 152/2009.
- Monitoring covers cereals and derived products, grasses and derived products including green fodder, and compound feed; results in SSD2 format go to EFSA by 30 June 2028. EFSA identified a particular need for data on green fodder and sorghum and on ergovaline in green fodder — with information on moisture content, target animals and type of compound feed (complete or complementary).
- In its 2024 opinion the CONTAM Panel set reference points for the sum of alkaloids in complete feed: pigs and piglets 0.6 mg/kg, chickens for fattening 2.1, laying hens 3.7, ducks 0.2, bovines 0.1 and sheep 0.3 mg/kg. It had 19,023 analytical results from 1,580 samples for the exposure assessment and considered transfer from feed to food of animal origin negligible.