PFAS control is moving upstream from the food on the shelf to the feed, water, soil, and packaging.

🗒️ Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1307 establishes a 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐲𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐒) 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝, which may be extended to soil and drinking water, in order to assess transfer rates into food of animal origin.

Based on the 2020 scientific opinion of EFSA’s CONTAM Panel, which found that the tolerable weekly intake was exceeded in the population due to the bioaccumulation of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), the European Union intends to complement the maximum levels already established under Regulation (EU) 2023/915.

➡️ 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐄𝐔) 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐/𝟏𝟒𝟑𝟏 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖.

Monitoring will focus on a broad range of matrices, including fish and aquatic animals, seaweed meal, mineral feed, forage, silage, hay, fresh grass, liquid feed, and compound feed. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐢𝐥, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬.

🔎 Sampling procedures must follow Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 for feed and soil and Directive (EU) 2020/2184, together with EN ISO 5667, for water.
Analyses, carried out in accordance with Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, require 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝟎.𝟏 μ𝐠/𝐤𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐒.

The data collected must be submitted to EFSA in SDD2 format by 30 June 2029.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are human-made “forever chemicals” known for their water, grease, and heat-resistant properties. Because they do not break down in the environment, they are widely detected in ecosystems, water supplies, and human bloodstreams.

PFAS are heavily embedded in industrial processes and consumer goods, leading to pervasive environmental contamination:

• Consumer Goods: Non-stick cookware, waterproof and stain-resistant textiles, cosmetics (such as waterproof mascara), and grease-resistant food packaging.
• Industrial & Municipal Sites: Firefighting foams, manufacturing emissions, and waste infrastructure.
• The Environment: Found in drinking water, soil, and dust. Certain PFAS compounds are transported through the atmosphere, leading to global dispersion.

The defining characteristic of PFAS is their strong carbon-fluorine bond, making them highly resistant to natural degradation. Main traits:

• Bioaccumulation: Because they do not easily break down, they accumulate in the bodies of humans, animals, and the food chain over time.
• Health Risks: Studies have linked long-term exposure to elevated PFAS levels to negative health outcomes, including hormone and immune system interference, liver damage, developmental delays, and increased cancer risk.
• Not Ubiquitous Everywhere: While present in global environments, scientists clarify that the larger body of work on PFAS doesn’t support them being found everywhere all the time, with local concentrations heavily dependent on proximity to manufacturing, use, and disposal.

💡 This opens a non-trivial scenario for your company: can your current supplier-assurance system trace a chemical contamination issue beyond the direct supplier and back to feed, water, soil, or packaging?