Eurofins at BIOFACH 2026

Don't miss our expert presentations at BIOFACH 2026

February 10^th, 12:00-12:45 p.m., Nürnberg Congress Center Mitte, Room Lissabon

At "EMOM BIOFACH 2026 – WORKSHOP WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS" by Dr. Alexander Zahm

February 11^th, 15:15-16:15 p.m., Nürnberg Conference Center East, Room Kyjiw

The official Biofach Congress session titled "Articles 28 and 29 of (EU) 2018/848: unclarity of “unauthorized” substances and trigger levels challenge organic production and trade" contains expert presentations by Dr. Werner Nader and Johannes Jaschik (Eurofins Food Testing laboratories in Germany), Aurora Abad (Organic Processing and Trade Association) and Juan Carlos Pérez Montero (European Organic Certifiers Council) and offers discussion possibilities. More information on session

Congress participation is free of charge for Biofach 2026 visitors. 

Where are the potential safety risks in your value chain and how can you effectively protect yourself against food safety hazards? Do you need support with certifying your products?

Visit us at our booth 7-544 in hall 7. We will be happy to answer all your questions regarding the food safety of your products. We offer practical advice, tailored analytical solutions, and reliable support for your product certifications.

Schedule your meeting

Would you like an individual consultation at BIOFACH 2026? You are welcome to make an appointment now via service@ftdach.eurofins.com.

More information on session

According to Article 28 and 29 of organic regulation (EU) 2018/848 the presence of substances in organic products, which are not authorized for organic agriculture and processing under the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165, may be an indication of a violation of the EU organic rules. Notwithstanding, traces of synthetic pesticides are regularly detected in organic food and there are numerous examples of unintentional and technically unavoidable contaminations (Schleiffer and Speiser, 2022). Examples are bromide and phosphonic acid, which also occur naturally in the environment, as well as chlorate, a contaminant of chlorinated drinking water (Nader et al., 2020 and 2026).

The new EU organic regulation includes in article 28 strict precautionary measures to be taken by operators to avoid the presence of non-authorized products and substances and in article 29 measures to be taken by the control authorities and control bodies in the case of such findings. But it lacks a harmonized definition of “presence’ and common application of processing factors for such substances and does not consider that certain compounds might have other causes than deliberate agricultural applications. The interpretation of such findings is left to the private sector and national control authorities, which handle this differently in the EU member states (Nader et al., 2020).

Official investigations triggered by the presence of non-authorized substances have considerable economic consequences due to the blocking of goods and information to customers. Organic industry and trade are concerned that many of these investigations might be initiated by suspicions, which are not substantiated. Official investigations triggered by the presence of non-authorized substances have considerable economic consequences due to the blocking of goods and information to customers. Organic industry and trade are concerned that many of these investigations might be initiated by suspicions, which are not substantiated.

The session will cover:

• chemical and analytical aspects of pesticide metabolites and multi-source substances, analytical thresholds and empirical and scientific knowledge explaining their occurrence in organic products apart from deliberate applications, presented by Johannes Jaschik (Eurofins Dr. Specht International) and Dr. Werner Nader (Eurofins Dr. Specht Express Testing & Inspection),
• the point of view of industry and trade with key asks for the revision of the organic regulation, presented by Aurora Abad, Secretary General of OPTA (Organic Processing and Trade Association),
• and challenges for the organic certifiers, presented by Juan Carlos Pérez Montero, Vice President of the EOCC (European Organic Certifiers Council) 

This session will be recorded and will be available to trade show visitors as „Video on Demand“ after the Biofach show. 

We are looking forward to your participation!