Dioxins and PCBs
Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in the food chain. Their presence in the environment in Europe has declined since the 1970s, following concerted efforts by public authorities and industry.
In the context of EFSA’s work, ‘dioxins’ refers to two groups of compounds: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Dioxins have no technological or other use but are generated in a number of thermal and industrial processes as unwanted and often unavoidable by-products. PCBs had widespread use in numerous industrial applications and were produced in large quantities for several decades with an estimated total world production of 1.2-1.5 million tonnes, until they were banned in most countries by the 1980s.
Dioxins and PCBs are found at low levels in many foods. Longer-term exposureConcentration or amount of a particular substance that is taken in by an individual, population or ecosystem in a specific frequency over a certain amount of time to these substances has been shown to cause a range of adverse effects on the nervous, immune and endocrine systems, and to impair reproductive functions. They may also cause cancer. Their persistencePersistence refers to the ability of harmful organisms like bacteria to survive and thrive despite regular cleaning and disinfection efforts, potentially lingering in hidden places for months or even years and accumulation in the food chain, notably in animal fat, therefore, continue to cause safety concerns.
Dioxins and some PCBs referred to as dioxinPersistent, chlorine-containing organic pollutant which occurs as by-product of industrial processes. It can accumulate in the food chain and pose a serious public and environmental health risk-like PCBs (due to their similar toxicological properties) are often considered together within the context of public health. Other PCBs referred to as ‘non-dioxin-like PCBs’ have a different mechanism of toxicityThe specific sequence of events explaining how a substance causes a toxic effect but can also cause adverse health effects.
A balanced and varied diet can help reduce the risk of exposure to contaminants. Including a wide range of foods in the diet may lower the intakeThe amount of a substance (e.g. nutrient or chemical) that is ingested by a person or animal via the diet of these contaminants from any single source.
Latest
EFSA is carrying out a risk–benefit assessment of fish consumption, looking at nutritional benefits alongside potential adverse effects due to exposure to several contaminants, including dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.
This work is expected to finish by the end of 2027. It follows a recommendation made by experts in EFSA’s 2018 assessment on dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs and was requested by the European Commission to support national authorities in providing dietary advice to citizens.
Ongoing and completed assessments
Milestones
2026
June
The updated scientific opinion on the risks to human and animal health from the presence of dioxins and dioxin‐like PCBs in food and feed concludes that dietary exposureFor the purposes of risk assessment, measurement of the amount of a substance consumed by a person or animal in their diet that is intentionally added or unintentionally present (e.g. a nutrient, additive or pesticide) to these substances continues to raise a health concern for the European populationCommunity of humans, animals or plants from the same species.
The opinion updates EFSA’s 2018 assessment following the World Health Organization’s 2022 revision of toxicityThe potential of a substance to cause harm to a living organism equivalency factors (TEFs), which are used to assess the combined toxicity of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.
Experts set a new tolerable weekly intakeThe maximum intake of substances in food, such as nutrients or contaminants, that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without risking adverse health effects (TWI) of 0.6 picograms per kilogram body weight per week for combined exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.
2018
November
EFSA publishes its first comprehensive risk assessment of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in food and feed. Experts conclude that dietary exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs raise a health concern, as dietary exposure data from European countries indicate that the new established TWIThe tolerable weekly intake (TWI) is the maximum intake of substances in food, such as nutrients or contaminants, that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without risking adverse health effects is exceeded across all age groups. Experts also note that the toxicity of the most harmful dioxin-like PCB may have been overestimated, and they recommend a review of the WHO-TEFs in light of new scientific data. Experts also highlight the need for a benefit-risk assessment of fish consumption that takes into account exposure to PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs.
February
Two scientific opinions assess decontamination processes for dioxins and PCBs from fish meal by extraction and/or replacement of fish oil.
2015
May
EFSA reviews different tolerable intakes of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in food and feed, and accepts a request from the European Commission for a comprehensive risk assessmentA specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation for animal and human health.
2012
December
A scientific opinionOpinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment looks at dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in commercially available foods for infants and young children following a request from Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).
July
Recent monitoring data for dioxins and PCBs show a drop in dietary exposure over the preceding decade.
2011
July
A scientific opinion looks at the human health risks related to the presence of high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in liver from sheep and deer.
2010
March
EFSA publishes European overview of dioxin levels in food and feed.
2008
December
EFSA responds to Commission’s urgent request on dioxins in Irish pork.
EFSA's role
EFSA’s Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) provides scientific advice and risk assessments on dioxins and PCBs to EU risk managers to help them assess the need for regulatory measures such as the setting of maximum levels of dioxins and PCBs in contaminated food and feed. In particular, the CONTAM Panel is required to:
- Assess human and animal exposure, using occurrenceThe fact or frequency of something (e.g. a disease or deficiency in a population) happening data, in particular, from monitoring by EU Member States
- Consider the exposure of specific population groups, e.g. infants and children and/or people following specific diets
- Consider the exposure of farm and domestic animals and the level of carryover from feed to foods of animal origin
- Make recommendations for the collection of data on dioxins and PCBs that enable the refinement of risk assessments
EFSA also collects and analyses occurrence data on dioxins and PCBs in food and feed. EU-wide data on the presence of dioxins and PCBs in the food chain can be used with food consumption data to evaluate the progress made in EU Member States in reducing the dietary exposure of the population to these contaminants. Risk managers may also use these data to revise maximum levels found in food and feed.
EU framework
In 2001, the European Union adopted a strategy on dioxins and PCBs aimed at reducing contamination levels of these substances in the environment, in feed and in foodstuffs to ensure a high level of public health protection. The European Commission website summarises the key milestones and provides details on the policy developments and regulatory measures taken since then.
- Food Contaminants: Dioxins and PCBs – European Commission
Still in 2001, the European Commission set for the first time maximum levels for dioxins, which were extended to dioxin-like PCBs in 2006. With Regulation EU 1259/2011 and Regulation EU 277/2012 they were updated and maximum levels were set for non-dioxin-like PCBs in food and feed, respectively. These regulations took account of more recent data on dioxins and PCBs in food and feed published in two EFSA scientific monitoring reports and an EFSA scientific opinion on non-dioxin-like PCBs.
- Regulation EU 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food – EUR-Lex
- Regulation EU 277/2012 setting maximum levels of dioxins and PCBs in feed – EUR-Lex
Member States are responsible for the monitoring of the levels of dioxins and PCBs in food. Previously, EFSA has been asked by the European Commission to collect, analyse and publish these data.