The European Commission has published three recommendations aimed at strengthening the monitoring and collection of data on emerging contaminants and substances of interest in animal feed. New monitoring measures are proposed for pyrrolizidine alkaloids, ergot alkaloids and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), contaminants on which scientific advances and EFSA risk assessments are providing new information of great relevance to the sector.
In this article, we analyse the main regulatory developments, the types of substances subject to control, and the raw materials and animal feed affected. Technical developments have contributed to the establishment of Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1210 of 9 June 2026 on monitoring the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in animal feed. Having a method for analysing pyrrolizidine alkaloids in animal feed makes it possible to establish control measures as a preliminary step before establishing other legislative measures to set maximum levels for this type of contaminant in animal feed. Since 2020, the analytical method developed by the European Union Reference Laboratory for mycotoxins and plant toxins in food and feed (Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR)) has been available and, in 2023, standard EN 17683:2023 was published establishes a validated laboratory method for quantifying pyrrolizidine alkaloids in animal feed and forage using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The pyrrolizidine alkaloids recommended for analysis are as follows:
- intermedine/lycopsamine and intermedine N-oxide/lycopsamine N-oxide,
- senecionine/senecivernine and senecionine N-oxide/senecivernine N-oxide,
- seneciphylline and seneciphylline N-oxide,
- retrorsine and retrorsine N-oxide,
- echimidine and echimidine N-oxide,
- lasiocarpine and lasiocarpine N-oxide,
- europine and europine N-oxide,
- senkirkine,
- heliotrine and heliotrine N-oxide,
- jacobine and jacobine N-oxide,
- jaconine and jaconine N-oxide,
- erucifoline and erucifoline N-oxide.
Samples will be taken from the following types of animal feed:
- ensiled grass,
- hay,
- forage and roughage (dried), such as alfalfa and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia),
- herbs, herb mixtures and plant extracts that are composed of or contaminated with plants (or parts thereof) known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, or that are produced from such plants (or parts thereof),
- compound feed containing herbs, herb mixtures and plant extracts.
In the case of monitoring the presence of ergot alkaloids in animal feed, the adoption of Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1243 continues the legislation on undesirable substances in animal feed, as well as the work carried out by EFSA to assess the risk of the main ergot alkaloids. The control measures focus on analysing at least the following ergot alkaloids:
- ergocristine or ergocristinine,
- ergotamine or ergotaminine,
- ergocryptine or ergocryptinine (α and β isomers),
- ergometrine or ergometrinine,
- ergosine or ergosinine,
- ergocornine or ergocorninine.
- It is also recommended to analyse ergovaline or ergovalinine, agroclavine, dihydroergosine and lolitrem B.
The checks will be carried out on:
- cereals and their derived products,
- grasses and their derived products, including forage,
- compound feed.
The issues concerning perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) go beyond Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1307 proposes measures for monitoring these substances. In addition, of risks to human health, EFSA’s work is also assessing the transfer of PFAS from animal feed to food of animal origin or from soil ingested by farm animals that scratch around in search of food and from drinking water intended for animals. In accordance with this approach, it is necessary to collect data on the presence of PFAS in animal feed and, likewise, in soil, where the presence of PFAS in food of animal origin may be related to the presence of PFAS in soil. Recommendation (EU) 2026/1307 proposes monitoring, during the years 2026, 2027 and 2028, the presence of PFAS in animal feed:
- perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS);
- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA);
- perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA);
- perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS).
The presence of PFAS will be studied in:
- fish, other aquatic animals and their derived products used as animal feed,
- seaweed meal and feed materials derived from seaweed,
- feed of mineral origin,
- forage, ensiled forage, hay and fresh grass,
- liquid feed,
- compound feed containing fish, other aquatic animals and their derived products or seaweed meal and feed materials derived from seaweed.
The development of analytical methods and advances in scientific knowledge continue to drive the introduction of new regulatory measures concerning animal feed safety. These recommendations highlight the importance of strengthening the monitoring of emerging contaminants and substances with a potential impact on animal and human health. For companies in the sector, anticipating these regulatory trends will be key to ensuring regulatory compliance and responding to the future demands of the agri-food chain.
