EU Recommendation 2026/1801 updates mycotoxin guidance for animal feed, ensuring stricter limits to protect animal health and public safety.
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/1801, adopted on 24 July 2026, replaces Recommendation 2006/576/EC and Recommendation 2013/165/EU, updating the guidance values for the presence of certain mycotoxins in products intended for animal feed in light of the latest EFSA scientific assessments.
The purpose of the Recommendation is to ensure a high level of animal health protection, and indirectly of public health protection, through:
- Systematic monitoring of the presence of mycotoxins in feed
- Application of updated guidance values for assessing feed acceptability;
- Assessment of the co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins in the same matrix;
- Integration of the guidance values into the own-check/HACCP systems of feed business operators.
The Recommendation sets guidance values for the following mycotoxins:
- Deoxynivalenol (DON)
- Zearalenone (ZEA)
- Ochratoxin A (OTA)
- T-2 and HT-2 toxins
- Fumonisins B1 + B2
Main updates compared with Recommendation 2006/576/EC
1. Greater species- and category-specific granularity
Recommendation 2006/576/EC provided for more aggregated target categories. Recommendation (EU) 2026/1801 introduces more specific guidance values for:
- Equines
- Aquatic animals
- Turkeys
- Laying hens
- Sheep
- Fur animals
- Several categories of pigs and ruminants
2. Downward revision of several guidance values
The main reductions concern, in particular, the following mycotoxin/species or animal category combinations:
|
Category |
Rec. CE 576/2006 |
Rec. UE 1801/2026 |
|
Fumonisins - Poultry |
20 mg/kg |
2 mg/kg |
|
Fumonisins - Pigs |
5 mg/kg |
1 mg/kg |
|
Fumonisins - Equines |
5 mg/kg |
1 mg/kg |
|
OTA - Pigs |
0.05 mg/kg |
0.01 mg/kg |
|
OTA - Poultry |
0.10 mg/kg |
0.03 mg/kg |
|
DON - Pigs |
0.9 mg/kg |
0.7 mg/kg |
3. Introduction of a more comprehensive framework for T-2 and HT-2 toxins
Under Recommendation 2006/576/EC, the references for T-2 and HT-2 toxins were more limited. Recommendation (EU) 2026/1801 introduces a more articulated table, with guidance values covering:
- Feed materials
- Compound feed
- Poultry
- Sheep
- Laying hens
- Cats
- Aquatic animals
Applicable timelines to be considered
The new guidance values should be taken into account by Member States and feed business operators:
- as from 1 July 2027 for most feed materials and compound feed;
- as from 1 October 2027 for maize, sorghum, soybean, sunflower and derived products thereof.
For further details, please refer to the following link: Recommendation (EU) 2026/1801
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