6.8.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 209/15 COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2002/70/EC of 26 July 2002 establishing requirements for the determination of levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feedingstuffs (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Council Directive 70/373/EEC of 20 July 1970 on the introduction of Community methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs (), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 2 thereof, Whereas: (1) Council Directive 1999/29/EC of 22 April 1999 on the undesirable substances and products in animal nutri- tion (%), as last amended by Directive 2001/102/EC (), establishes maximum limits for dioxins and furans in several feed materials and feedingstuffs. (2) It is necessary to establish requirements with which the method of analysis should comply in order to ensure that laboratories use methods of analysis with compar- able levels of performance. (3)  The provisions for sampling and methods of analysis have been drawn up on the basis of present knowledge and they may be adapted to take account of advances in scientific and technological knowledge. (4)  The provisions laid down in this Directive relate only to the analysis of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs for the implementation of Directive 2001/102/EC amending Directive 1999/29/EC on the undesirable substances and products in animal nutrition (5)  An active approach should be pursued in order to obtain comprehensive reliable data on the presence of dioxin- like PCBs in feed materials and feedingstuffs. Require- ments should therefore be laid down as regards the methods of analysis to be used for the determination of dioxin-like PCBs in feed materials and feedingstuffs. (6) A screening method of analysis with proven, widely acceptable validation and high throughput could be used to select the samples with significant levels of dioxins. The levels of dioxins in these samples need to be deter- mined by a confirmatory method of analysis. It is there- 0J L 170, 3.8.1970, p. 2. () OJL 115, 4.5.1999, p. 32. OJ L 6, 10.1.2002, p. 45. fore appropriate to establish requirements for the confir- matory methods of analysis and for the screening method. (7)  The measures provided for in this Directive are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 The Member States shall ensure that the sampling for the offi- cial control of the levels of dioxins and furans and the determi- nation of the levels of dioxin-like PCBs in feedingstuffs is carried out in accordance with the methods described in Annex L. Article 2 The Member States shall ensure that sample preparation and methods of analyses used for the official control of the levels of dioxins and furans and the determination of the levels of dioxin-like PCBs in feedingstuffs comply with the criteria described in Annex II. Article 3 Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Direc- tive by 28 February 2003 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a refer- ence on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. Article 4 This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.