Mycotoxins in feed: new guidance values and a recommendation to test five toxin groups together
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1801 (OJ of 28 July 2026) replaces Recommendations 2006/576/EC and 2013/165/EU as of 1 July 2027. It recommends monitoring deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 toxins and fumonisins B1 + B2 in feed, and analysing samples for all of them simultaneously to assess their co-occurrence.
- Guidance values are given in mg/kg for feed with a moisture content of 12 %; for deoxynivalenol in feed materials they include 4.0 in cereals and cereal products (except maize), 8.0 in maize and maize products, 2.5 in soybean and its products and 0.5 in other oilseeds and oil fruits (the 2006 recommendation: 8 for cereals and cereal products except maize by-products, for which it was 12).
- In complete feedingstuffs the value for deoxynivalenol is 5.0 mg/kg, but 0.7 mg/kg for pigs (the 2006 recommendation gave 0.9 mg/kg for complementary and complete feedingstuffs for pigs), 2.0 mg/kg for calves under 4 months, lambs, kids and dogs, and 3.5 mg/kg for equines.
- Values for feed materials are based on occurrence data, and those for complete feedingstuffs on animal-health reference points from EFSA opinions of 2017–2023; the Commission strongly recommends that they are not exceeded.
- The new values are to be taken into account from 1 July 2027, and for maize, sorghum, soybean and sunflower and their derived products from 1 October 2027; the replaced recommendations were based on EFSA opinions from 2004–2005 (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, fumonisins) and 2011 (T-2 and HT-2 toxins).
Source: Dziennik Urzędowy Unii Europejskiej — zalecenie Komisji (UE) 2026/1801