European Commission updates guidance framework for mycotoxins in animal feed

The European Commission has introduced an updated regulatory framework to combat mycotoxin contamination in livestock feed across the EU. Formally adopted as Recommendation 2026/1801 on July 24 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 28, the new measure establishes revised reference values for several major fungal toxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and fumonisins B1 and B2.

Scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027, the updated standard replaces previous guidelines set out in Recommendations 2006/576/EC and 2013/165/EU, modernizing both monitoring protocols and safety evaluations for raw agricultural ingredients and compound feeds.

Brussels emphasized that the newly published values function as operational risk-management benchmarks rather than legally binding statutory ceilings. While exceeding a reference value does not automatically trigger a product ban or render feed illegal, it obligates operators to execute thorough risk assessments and implement precautionary measures. The goal is to ensure feed remains safe and fully aligned with general European safety duties without disrupting trade unnecessarily.

The structural overhaul reflects recent scientific assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which provided clearer insights into how mycotoxins impact specific animal species. For example, toxicological reference points for DON were revised downward for horses, broiler chickens, and turkeys due to chronic risks like reduced feed intake and stunted weight gain. Similarly, thresholds were tightened for fumonisins in poultry and horses, as well as for T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cattle and sheep.

The guideline introduces tailored values for specific raw materials and livestock categories, such as distinct zearalenone levels for dairy cows, calves, sheep, and goats. All measurements continue to be expressed in milligrams per kilogram (parts per million).

A key shift in the EU’s strategy is the emphasis on simultaneous multi-mycotoxin testing. Member States and industry operators are urged to analyze samples for multiple contaminants concurrently to better reflect natural co-occurrence in raw materials.

For feed business operators, these reference values must now be embedded directly into Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) protocols. Suppliers are required to provide clear contamination data to feed manufacturers, ensuring safe formulation for vulnerable species. For complementary feeds, values must be calculated proportionally based on daily feed ratios to prevent total exposure from exceeding safe complete-feed thresholds.

The transition timeline is structured as follows:
• July 1, 2027: General implementation across standard feed materials and compound products.
• October 1, 2027: Deadline for higher-risk commodities, including maize, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, and their derivatives.

This phased transition provides manufacturers, nutritionists, and farmers time to update sampling programs, supplier contracts, and internal control systems.

Source:

European Commission