Food analysis – Horizontal methods
CEN/TC 275 ‘Food analysis – Horizontal methods’ standardizes horizontal methods for the analysis of foodstuffs, guaranteeing a high degree of food safety in Europe. Standards that are scheduled to be published in 2026 include:
- prEN 18082 ‘Foods of animal origin – Multimethod for the determination of pesticide residues using LC-based analysis following acetonitrile extraction/partitioning and clean-up by dispersive SPE’;
- prEN ISO/TS 21569-10 ‘Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis – Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products – Part 10: Construct- and event-specific detection methods for genetically modified salmon expressing CS-GHc2 growth hormone’.
In 2026, the technical committee plans to start the revision of standards in the mycotoxin and process contaminants sector as a reaction to the changes in their respective regulations: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2782 and Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
On top of that, they will continue the work on the development of four further parts of the EN 15634 series of standards on the molecular detection of food allergens in food. Another working group is entrusted with the development and validation of two new methods in the field of elements and chemical species, namely the determination of arsenic species and methylmercury in food.
Milk and milk products – Methods of sampling and analysis
CEN/TC 302 'Milk and milk products' develops standards for methods of analysis and sampling for milk and milk products, requested by the EU in view of EU directives and regulations and other supporting EU documents. The standards are needed to eliminate commercial trade barriers between European countries, at the request of stakeholders. This work is done in close cooperation with ISO/TC 34/ SC 5 'Milk and milk products’ and the International Dairy Federation (IDF).
In 2026, the TC will continue their important work on the following ENs:
- prEN ISO 24223 rev ‘Cheese – Guidance on sample preparation for physical and chemical testing’;
- prEN ISO 16958 ‘Milk, milk products, infant formula and adult nutritionals – Determination of fatty acids composition – Capillary gas chromatographic method’ (ISO/FDIS 16958:2025);
- prEN ISO 20647 rev ‘Infant formula and adult nutritionals – Determination of total iodine – Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry’ (ICP-MS);
- prEN ISO 13366-2 rev ‘Milk – Enumeration of somatic cells – Part 2: Guidance on the operation of fluoro-opto-electronic counters’;
- prEN ISO 13366-1 rev ‘Milk – Enumeration of somatic cells – Part 1: Microscopic method (Reference method)’;
- prEN ISO 29981 ‘Milk products – Enumeration of bifidobacteria – Colony-count technique’ (ISO 29981:2024).
Oilseeds, vegetable and animal fats and oils and their by-products – Methods of sampling and analysis
In 2026, CEN/TC 307 'Oilseeds, vegetable and animal fats and oils and their by-products' will be publishing the new document CEN ISO/TS 21296 ‘Oilseeds – Determination of oil content by the Randall extraction method’.
Pulp, paper, and board
CEN/TC 172 'Pulp, paper and board' is responsible for standardization work that covers nomenclature, test methods, and specifications for fibrous raw materials (including pulpwood, recovered paper, and pulps), auxiliary materials (such as fillers, pigments, and starches), and paper products (such as printing, packaging, and sanitary papers), excluding finished packages.
Key milestones:
- Testing of paper and board: The development of prCEN/TS 18244, concerning the determination of mineral oil hydrocarbons transfer from food contact materials, is prepared for voting.
- Recyclability assessment: Significant advancements in developing laboratory test methods for assessing the recyclability of paper and board-based materials and products have been made. Parts 1 to 3 are in various stages, with key milestones expected in 2026.
Ongoing and new activities for 2026:
- Current standard development work will continue, such as prEN ISO 287 ‘Determination of moisture content’ with Draft International Standard (DIS) ballot by April 2026 the latest.
- There will be further developments, such as prEN 645 ‘Preparation of a cold water extract’, with the enquiry planned by March 2026 the latest.
- There will be further progress in testing methodologies and analytical methods for paper and board intended for food contact, including prEN 1104 ‘Determination of antimicrobial constituents transfer’ and prEN 647 ‘Preparation of a hot water extract’, already submitted for enquiry.
Projects anticipated for development in 2026:
- prEN ISO 287 ‘Paper and board – Determination of moisture content of a lot’
- prEN ISO 1924-2 ‘Paper and board – Determination of tensile properties – Part 2’
- prEN 645 ‘Paper and board intended to come into contact with foodstuffs – Preparation of a cold water extract’
- prEN 647 ‘Paper and board intended to come into contact with foodstuffs – Preparation of a hot water extract’
- prEN 18236 ‘Pulp, paper and board – Determination of the migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) into food simulants’
Algae
CEN/TC 454 ‘Algae and algae products’ is in the last stages of finalizing the technical work related to Standardization Request M/547 ‘Algae’ and aims to publish up to seven standards supporting it in 2026:
- prEN 18197 ‘Algae and algae products – Determination of the amino acid profile of micro- and macroalgae’
- prEN 18196 ‘Algae and algae products – Determination of inorganic arsenic in algae and algae products by anion-exchange (HPLC-ICP-MS)’
- prEN 18198 ‘Algae and algae products – Nitrogen content measurement and protein content calculation for micro- and macroalgae’
- prEN 18207 ‘Algae and algae products – Determination of the uronic acids content of brown seaweed and alginate products’
- prEN 18204 ‘Algae and algae products – Determination of the phycocyanin content in Arthrospira (Spirulina)’
- prEN 18210 ‘Algae and algae products – Determination of the fatty acid composition’
- prEN 18206 ‘Algae and algae products – Methods of sampling and analysis – Determination of beta carotene, fucoxanthin and lutein content in microalgae’
Additionally, CEN/TC 454 is in the process of making an inventory of ‘topics of interest’ for various stakeholders to be developed in 2026 and beyond to support the development and industrialization of the algae sector.
FOOD AUTHENTICITY