On 10 June 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an update of its risk assessment on dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in feed and food. The plain language summary outlines the agency's revised evaluation of these persistent environmental contaminants, which accumulate in the food chain and pose long-term health risks to consumers.
The document, produced by EFSA's Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM), updates the previous assessment from 2018. It establishes a new tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 2 picograms per kilogram of body weight per week for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, lowering the previous TWI of 14 pg/kg/week set in 2001. The reduction reflects improved toxicological data and refined exposure estimates.
EFSA's assessment confirms that a significant proportion of the European population exceeds the new TWI, particularly children and high consumers of fish, meat, and dairy products. The agency identifies food of animal origin as the main source of exposure, with fish, eggs, and dairy contributing most to intake.
Policy orientations and trade-offs
The updated risk assessment introduces a more stringent safety threshold, which could prompt stricter regulatory limits on dioxins and PCBs in feed and food. This may reduce consumer exposure but could increase compliance costs for food producers, particularly in the livestock and aquaculture sectors. The assessment does not propose specific regulatory measures but provides the scientific basis for future risk management decisions by the European Commission and member states.
Impact on stakeholders - Consumers: Potentially improved health protection if the new TWI leads to stricter limits, though no immediate change in food safety. - Food producers (livestock, aquaculture, dairy): May face higher costs for testing, feed decontamination, or sourcing low-contamination raw materials. - National food safety authorities: Will need to adjust monitoring programs and may revise dietary advice based on the new TWI. - European Commission and EU regulators: Expected to consider revising maximum levels for dioxins and PCBs in feed and food under Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
Expected institutional follow-up EFSA's opinion will be transmitted to the European Commission, which will consult member states and stakeholders before deciding on any regulatory updates. The Commission may propose amendments to existing maximum levels within the next 12–18 months.
← Atlas › News › Agri-food