Two new CEN Technical Specifications now help to detect nano-objects in inorganic additives in food matrices and to assess aggregation and agglomeration in powders, aerosols, and suspensions. The documents have been developed under European Commission Mandate M/461.
The newly published CEN/TS 18267:2026 ‘Nanotechnologies - Guidelines for sample preparation, detection, identification and characterization by spICP-MS and EM-EDX of nano-objects in inorganic additives incorporated in food matrices’ and CEN/TS 18269:2026 ‘Nanotechnologies - Guidance on the determination of the aggregation and agglomeration state of nano-objects’ offer harmonized approaches for examining nano-objects.
More specifically, CEN/TS 18267:2026 offers guidance to the food industry, service providers, and control laboratories on methodologies to be used for sample preparation, detection, identification, and measurement of nano-objects in inorganic food additives incorporated in food matrices. This is done through electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EM-EDX) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in single particle mode (spICP-MS). By doing so, information is provided on the chemical composition and the number-based particle size distribution of the nano-objects.
Meanwhile, CEN/TS 18269:2026 provides guidance for users on the correct selection and usage of routinely available techniques for the determination of the aggregation and agglomeration state of nano-objects in powders, aerosols, and suspensions. It provides guidance on measurands and measurement methods to use along with guidance on sample preparation.
These deliverables were developed under the European Commission’s Mandate M/461, which aims to provide standardized methodologies for nanotechnology applications to enable a safe, integrated, and responsible market introduction and acceleration of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials.
Casper Van Herzele
cvanherzele@cencenelec.eu
