Analysis of organic food
Our core competences for your organic food
From seed to cultivation to the finished organic product – we support you in the analytical testing of your products. We begin by taking samples in the country of origin, assist you in importing the products and work with you to draw up analytical test plans for the respective product groups. In doing so, we consider not only potential residues, but also microbiological and chemical parameters. At the same time, we provide advice on food law questions and evaluate your products regarding their conformity with the EU Organic Regulation, possibly other legal regulations and relevant specifications.
Topic overview
Our range of analyses and services for organic foods
In the organic sector, high expectations are placed on the products being natural and free from residues or contaminants. Every product must meet the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation. Therefore, in addition to the obligatory microbiological and chemical parameters, possible residues and contaminants play a significant role. We provide you with risk-oriented advice for your products, analyse the active substances relevant to you, compare these with the agreed specifications (including the EU Organic Regulation, Maximum Residue Levels Regulation (396/2005), BNN specification) and summarise the results for you in a comprehensive analytical test report. We give you advice in case of findings of "multiple source substances", support you in case of additional enquiries and discuss sources of contamination (e.g. fertilisers, plant fortifiers, soil). We will be happy to check the product's declaration for you and also compare it with your specification. Please do not hesitate to contact us, we will connect you with our respective experts for your product group or your specific question.
Our range of services at a glance
As a leading provider of laboratory services, the Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories in Germany offer you an individual and complete range of analytical methods and advice. This enables us to address all relevant parameters that are also required for the organic sector:
Residues and contaminants
- Pesticides
- Multi-methods for all common matrices
- Group methods
such as polar group methods (fosetyl / phosphonic acid, chlormequat, ethephon, chlorate / perchlorate, etc.) and acidic herbicides after hydrolysis (phenoxyalkanecarboxylic acids) - Individual methods
such as glyphosate, ethylene oxide / 2-chloroethanol, diquat / paraquat
- Mycotoxins
- Pyrrolizidine, quinolizidine and tropane alkaloidse
- Heavy metals
- Dioxins, PCBs and PAHs
- Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH / MOAH)
- Veterinary drug residues
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Acrylamide, furan
- MCPD esters
- QAC, chlorate, perchlorate
General parameters
- Nutritional analysis
- National and international labelling testing and
- Assessment of marketability
- Allergens
- Sensory analysis
Genetecally modifierd organisms (GMO)
- GMO screening: identification and quantification
- Advice on the implementation of "non-GMO" labelling
- VLOG GMO packages for feedstuffs
Microbiology
- Total microbial count
- Yeasts and moulds
- Bacillus cereus, staphylococci, etc.
- Salmonella, STEC / VTEC, etc.
- Multi-resistant germs (ESBL / MRSA)
- Hepatitis A viruses, noroviruses
Industry expertise
The Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories in Germany have been working with producing companies and traders in the organic segment for many years. Our industry experts can advise you on risk assessment and monitoring plans and are able to evaluate residue findings regarding organic food. The complementary close cooperation with organic inspection bodies and active participation in organic committees guarantees you sound advice and assessment. Our experts are present at the relevant trade fairs and participate in the current topics with own contents.
Memberships of individual Eurofins laboratories
- Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren (BNN) e.V. (Federal Association for Natural Foods)
- Warenverein der Hamburger Börse e.V., working group organic products
- Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik e.V. (VLOG) (Association for food without genetic engineering)
- QM-Votum Bio (Professional handling of contaminants in organic food processes)
Legal classification
With the EU Organic Regulation that came into force in January 2022 and supplementary legal acts, there is a strictly regulated system for compliance and control of the regulations for the production, processing and trade of organic food. In addition to appropriately qualified analysis along the entire organic value chain, we also offer you the necessary know-how and consulting expertise in dealing with the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation, other relevant legal acts and the inspection bodies.
Eurofins Food Legislation News
The Eurofins Food Legislation News is published every two months and focuses on innovations in food legislation and interesting court rulings. Here you will find, among other things, regular information worth knowing about organic food as well as a selected overview of important RASFF rapid alerts.
Relevant legal bases and guidelines
Links to the current EU regulations
- New Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products of 17 June 2018 (consolidated text)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 of 15 July 2021 (consolidated text) (authorising certain products and substances for use in organic production)
Links to national German regulations
- Öko-Landbaugesetz (Organic Farming Act, in German)
- Öko-Kennzeichengesetz (Organic Labelling Act, in German)
- Öko-Kennzeichen-Verordnung (ÖkoKennzV) (Organic Labelling Ordinance, in German)
- ÖLG-Kontrollstellen-Zulassungsverordnung – ÖLGKontrollStZulV (für Öko-Kontrollstellen) (Approval of inspection bodies according to the Organic Farming Act, in German)
- Orientation values of the BNN (Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren/Federal Association of Natural Foods and Products)
Contact us
As a leading provider of laboratory services, we offer you an individual and complete range of advice and analytical methods. This enables us to address all relevant parameters required for the organic sector. Please contact us for your individual questions and analysis requirements by addressing to your account manager or our expert Anna Fecke. We look forward to your enquiry.