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Dear Readers,
Aflatoxin B1 is one of the most harmful fungal toxins found in food and animal feed. In order to identify risks at an early stage and carry out tests specifically where they are most crucial, the supplementary control plan is regularly adapted to reflect the current risk situation in the producing countries. The supplementary control plan for the 2026 maize harvest has now been published. In this issue, you can read about the requirements applicable to the 2026 harvest and why the internationally coordinated control system is a key component in ensuring safe animal feed.
We also remind you to keep your contact details up to date in the QS database, introduce the online reporting of incidents, and show that not all audits are the same.
Stay up to date with QS!
Best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Alexander Hinrichs
What matters to you:
2026 Harvest: Supplementary control plan for aflatoxin B1 updatedThe revised supplementary control plan for aflatoxin B1 in maize from the 2026 harvest has been in force since 18 September 2026. Slovakia and Ukraine have been evaluated and are now classified as medium-risk countries. Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Brazil remain high-risk countries. The supplementary control plan complements the QS feed monitoring scheme and specifies how frequently maize from certain countries of origin must be tested for aflatoxin B1. The aim is to identify risks at an early stage in order to enhance feed and food safety. The current version of the supplementary control plan for aflatoxin B1 can be found here. |
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Are your contact details up to date?To ensure that QS can contact companies quickly, for example in the event of a crisis, or provide information on system-relevant issues, the contact details in the QS database must always be up to date and updated whenever changes occur. At least one legal representative and one crisis manager must be listed, along with their telephone number and email address. Please bear in mind that other contact details in the scheme participant and site data must also be kept up to date at all times. Step-by-step instructions on how to maintain the data can be found under the ‘Support’ tab in the database. Companies participating via a system coordinator should contact their designated contact person there in the event of any changes. Small-scale producers of feed materials and operators of mobile feed milling and mixing plants should please inform their certification body of any changes. |
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Did you know?
Report incidents onlineIn the event of an incident, every minute counts. That is why QS provides an online form for quick and straightforward reporting. Scheme participants are guided step by step through the reporting process. All relevant information can be collected directly and documents uploaded. The report is sent immediately to QS’s crisis management team so that measures can be taken swiftly and targeted support provided to the affected companies. You can find the online form here. Note: The incidence forms were revised on 3 September 2026. The information regarding statutory reporting obligations was updated as part of this revision. |
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Why does QS do that?
Not all audits are the sameThe QS scheme comprises various types of audit, each with a different focus. The regular audit forms the basis for certification and comprehensively assesses whether a company meets all QS requirements. In addition, for certain production scopes, unannounced spot audits are carried out between regular audits. These focus primarily on the production process. In addition, random sample audits are carried out on a regular basis to monitor specific criteria. There are also parallel and witness audits. Through these, QS reviews the work of certification bodies and auditors and strengthens the integrity of the scheme. In cases of suspicion or imminent danger, audits of special purpose are carried out to investigate the matter on site. |
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