Objective Recently attention has been drawn on the presence of polychloro dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorodibenzo furanes (PCDFs) in dairy products. Trade has been hampered because of the suspected presence of higher contents of such contaminants in milk powder, cheese, etc. In some countries incineration plants have been closed because of the presence of dioxins in milk from cows grassing in the surroundings.The determination of dioxins in food products necessitates sophisticated equipment such as High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) and High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC). Sensitivities of 0.1 pg/g have to be achieved in order to accurately determine levels of 6 pg TEC/g fat in milk (TEC = toxic equivalent concentration). This latter content is the maximum tolerable limit for the milk in certain countries (e.g. NL). The extremely low levels to be determined often result in disagreement of the results of the analyses. Therefore doubt has been raised on the validity of the results of the determination of PCDDs and PCDFs and on the quality of the monitored dairy products within the E.C. The necessity has been demonstrated to set up a network of well trained laboratories involved in dioxin determinations in food and feed. This network should possibly cover all Member States.Some laboratories acting upon request of their national authorities have proposed to the Commission to start a project, within the framework of the BCR programme, on the determination of PCDDs and PCDFs in milk. This project should establish the state of the art of such determinations and should help laboratories to improve the quality of their measurements. A first intercomparison on PCDDs and PCDFs will establish the state of the art of the determination of such compounds in milk. Three batches of freeze-dried milk powder will be prepared - one natural milk powder (approx. 2 pg TEC/g fat of dioxins) - two PCDDs and PCDFs enriched samples (approx. 6 pg TEC and 20 pg TEC/g fat). According to the results of the intercomparison, additional exercises will be envisaged to increase the quality of the measurements. Possibly a milk powder, whenever necessary, will be certified for the PCDD and PCDF content. STATUS 1st intercomparison concluded Fields of science agricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedairynatural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrymass spectrometryengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processes Programme(s) FP2-BCR 4 - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of applied metrology and chemical analysis (Community Bureau of Reference - BCR), 1988-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Rikilt EU contribution No data Address 45,Bornsesteeg 6700 AE WAGENINGEN Netherlands See on map Total cost No data Participants (12) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) France EU contribution No data Address 69390 Vernaison See on map Total cost No data Chemische Landesuntersuchungsanstalt Stuttgart Germany EU contribution No data Address Breitscheidstraße 4 70174 Stuttgart See on map Total cost No data IMW-TNO Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 97,Schoemakerstraat 2600 JA DELFT See on map Total cost No data Institut Fresenius GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address Konrad-Adenauer-Straße 30 55218 Ingelheim See on map Total cost No data Institut Fresenius GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address Im Maisel 14 65232 Taunusstein See on map Total cost No data MAFF Food Science Laboratory United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Norwich Research Park Colney NR4 7UQ Norwich See on map Total cost No data National Public Health Institute Finland EU contribution No data Address 70701 KUOPIO See on map Total cost No data RIVM Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 9,A. van Leeuwenhoeklaan 3720 BA BILTHOVEN See on map Total cost No data University of Amsterdam Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 166,Nieuwe Achtergracht 1018 WV AMSTERDAM See on map Total cost No data University of Umea Sweden EU contribution No data Address 20,Comentvägen 90187 UMEA See on map Total cost No data VITO - Vlaamse Inst. voor Technologisch Onderzoek Belgium EU contribution No data Address 200,Boeretang 2400 MOL See on map Total cost No data Ökometric GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address Berneckerstraße 17-21 95448 BAYREUTH See on map Total cost No data
