PFAS in feed: Recommendation (EU) 2026/1307 — monitoring of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS in 2026–2028 with a limit of quantification in feed of at most 0.1 μg/kg, with soil and drinking water for animals in follow-up investigations
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1307 of 11 June 2026, published on 16 June, recommends that Member States, together with feed business operators, monitor perfluoroalkyl substances in feed in 2026, 2027 and 2028. The data are to show the transfer of PFAS from feed to food of animal origin and to inform a discussion on possible maximum levels in feed.
- Monitoring covers PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS and, where possible, related compounds with a different alkyl chain length listed in Recommendation (EU) 2022/1431. Maximum levels of PFAS in certain foods of animal origin are set by Regulation (EU) 2023/915 — PFAS in feed or soil can cause them to be exceeded.
- Scope: fish and other aquatic animals and products derived from them, seaweed meal and feed materials derived from seaweed, feed of mineral origin, green fodder, silage, hay and fresh grass, liquid feed and compound feed containing fish or seaweed. In follow-up investigations of high PFAS levels in food of animal origin, the soil on which animals forage and their drinking water are analysed too, and packaging may be examined as a source of contamination.
- The limit of quantification for individual PFAS in feed should be at most 0.1 μg/kg; analyses follow Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. Feed is sampled under Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 (assuming PFAS are evenly distributed in the lot), soil the same way where appropriate, and drinking water according to EN ISO 5667. Results in SSD2 format go to EFSA by 30 June 2029; data should mainly concern feed from non-contaminated regions, while data from contaminated regions may be reported if clearly flagged.
- The previous Recommendation (EU) 2022/1431 covered food in 2022–2025. For the meat of fish and land animals it set the same limit of quantification of 0.10 μg/kg, and for fruit, vegetables, starchy roots and tubers and food for infants and young children much lower ones: 0.001 to 0.004 μg/kg depending on the compound.