Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are toxins found in a wide variety of plant species growing in mild climates. The most well-known are Datura, Atropa and Hyoscyamus sp., belonging to the Solanaceae family. The TAs family comprises more than 200 compounds, of which atropine and scopolamine are the most...

The number of known mycotoxins, their precursors and metabolites has been steadily increasing over the past years. The European Commission puts special emphasis on the need to monitor the co-occurrence of mycotoxins of various families at levels that allow for a sound risk assessment, taking...

Throughout history, there have been several deadly episodes of food poisoning by ergot alkaloids (EAs) (known as St. Anthony's fire or ergotism). EAs are secondary metabolites produced by fungi of the Claviceps genus (chiefly Claviceps purpurea), which are common pathogens of cereals and pasture...

The Joint Research Centre (JRC), a Directorate-General of the European Commission operates the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Mycotoxins. One of its core tasks is to organise proficiency tests (PTs) among designated National Reference Laboratories (NRLs). This report presents the...

The Joint Research Centre (JRC), a Directorate-General of the European Commission, operates the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Mycotoxins. One of its core tasks is to organise proficiency tests (PTs) among appointed National Reference Laboratories (NRLs). This report presents the...

This report presents the results of the ILC of the EU-RL for Mycotoxins which focused on the determination of aflatoxin B1 (AfB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) in cereal samples. Seventy one participants from 31 countries registered for the exercise. Fifty-nine sets of results...

This report presents the results of the ILC of the EURL for Mycotoxins which focused on the determination of patulin in apple juice samples. Fifty-one participants from 27 countries (among them 30 NRLs and 21 official food control laboratories) registered for the exercise and 50 sets (Sample A...

This report presents the results of the ILC of the EU-RL for Mycotoxins which focused on the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON), T-2 and HT-2 in cereal samples. Thirty-five participants from 27 countries registered for the exercise. 34 (Sample A) & 34 (Sample B) sets of...

This report presents the results of the proficiency test (PT) organised by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) - in agreement with DG SANTE - following a request by the Belgium Government on 16/08/2017. The aim of this PT is to to assess the competence of Official Control...

The European Network of Food Allergen Detection Laboratories (ENFADL), hosted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, organised a proficiency testing round (PT) designated as "AL-20/01". This PT was designed for the determination of the mass fraction of total hen's egg...