EFSA public consultation on the risk for animal and human health related to the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feed and food

References

TOX/2025/48

Last updated: 08 December 2025

This is a paper for discussion. This does not represent the views of the Committee and should not be cited.

Bell DR, Clode S, Fan MQ, Fernandes A, Foster PMD, Jiang T, Loizou G, MacNicoll A, Miller BG, Rose M, Tran L, White S (2007a). Relationships between tissue levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), mRNAs, and toxicity in the developing male Wistar(Han) rat. Toxicological Science, 99, 591-604.

https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfm179

Bell DR, Clode S, Fan MQ, Fernandes A, Foster PMD, Jiang T, Loizou G, MacNicoll A, Miller BG, Rose M, Tran L, White S (2007b). Toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the developing male Wistar(Han) rat. I: No decrease in epididymal sperm count after a single acute dose. Toxicological Sciences, 99, 214–223.

https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfm140

Bell DR, Clode S, Fan MQ, Fernandes A, Foster PMD, Jiang T, Loizou G, MacNicoll A, Miller BG, Rose M, Tran L, White S (2007c). Toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the developing male Wistar(Han) rat. II: Chronic dosing causes developmental delay. Toxicological Sciences, 99(1), 224-233.

https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfm141

COT (2021). Position paper on dioxin. Dioxin Interim Poistion Statement.

EFSA (2018). Risk for animal and human health related to the presenceof dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feed and food. EFSA Journal, 16(11):5333, 331 pp.

https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5333

EFSA (2022). Guidance on the use of the benchmark dose approach in risk assessment. EFSA Journal, 20(10):7584, 67 pp.

https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7584

EFSA (2025). Update of the risk assessment of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feed and food. Public Consultation

Faqi AS, Dalsenter PR, Merker HJ, Chahoud I (1998a). Reproductive toxicity and tissue concentrations of low doses of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in male offspring rats exposed throughout pregnancy and lactation. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 150, 383–392.

https://doi.org/10.1006/taap.1998.8433

JECFA (2024). The 2022 world health organization reevaluation of human and mammalian toxic equivalency factors for polychlorinated dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 146, 105525.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105525

Mínguez-Alarcón L, Sergeyev O, Burns JS, Williams PL, Lee MM, Korrick SA, Smigulina L, Revich B, Hauser R (2017). A longitudinal study of peripubertal serum organochlorine concentrations and semen parameters in young men: the Russian Children's Study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125, 460-466.

https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp25

Mocarelli P, Gerthoux PM, Patterson DG Jr, Milani S, Limonta G, Bertona M, Signorini S, Tramacere P, Colombo L, Crespi C, Brambilla P, Sarto C, Carreri V, Sampson EJ, Turner WE, Needham LL (2008). Dioxin exposure, from infancy through puberty, produces endocrine disruption and affects human semen quality. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116, 70-77.

https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.10399

Mocarelli P, Gerthoux PM, Needham LL, Patterson DG, Limonta G, Falbo R, Signorini S, Bertona M, Crespi C, Sarto C, Scott PK, Turner WE, Brambilla P, 2011. Perinatal exposure to low doses of dioxin can permanently 4887 impair human semen quality. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119, 713-718.

https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1002134

SCF (2001). Risk assessment of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in food. Opinion of the SCF on the risk assessment of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs - update May 2001