ISO 3890-1:2009

Overview

ISO 3890-1:2009 (IDF 75-1:2009) sets out general considerations and extraction methods for the determination of residues of organochlorine pesticides in milk and milk products. It defines the analytical scope, sample preparation requirements and core principles used to extract and quantify organochlorine compounds (pesticides) from various dairy matrices. The standard addresses low- and high-fat products (Annex A) and provides guidance for analyses affected by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (Annex B).

Key analytes covered include: α-, β-, γ-HCH, aldrin/dieldrin, heptachlor/heptachlorepoxide, DDT/DDE/TDE isomers, chlordane/oxychlordane, endrin, with some methods applicable to δ‑ketoendrin and HCB (hexachlorobenzene).

Key Topics

• Analytical principle: Four-stage approach - extraction from the sample matrix, clean-up to remove interferences, solvent exchange to a detector-compatible medium, and quantification by gas–liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection (GLC–ECD). Identity confirmation is required when levels approach regulatory limits.
• Sample types: Fresh milk, evaporated and sweetened condensed milk, powdered milks, butter and butterfat, cheese and other milk products.
• Extraction & high-fat handling: General extraction methods are specified; Annex A covers procedures for high-fat products and fat extraction.
• Interference management: Annex B provides guidance for analyses in the presence of PCBs and recommends PCB determination where interference is significant.
• Quality requirements: Purity checks for solvents, water, adsorbents and apparatus; use of analytical-grade reagents; control of contamination from plastics and rubbers; storage of purified reagents.
• Performance parameters: Sections on sampling, preparation, preliminary tests, quantitative and confirmatory determination, calculation and presentation of results, precision (repeatability, reproducibility) and limits of determination.

Applications

ISO 3890-1:2009 is intended for:

• Food safety and analytical laboratories performing pesticide residue testing in dairy.
• Regulatory agencies and compliance testing for maximum residue limits (MRLs) in milk and milk products.
• Dairy industry quality assurance teams and third-party testing providers validating supplier/product safety.
• Research laboratories studying organochlorine contamination, exposure assessment or method development.

Benefits include standardized extraction practices, improved comparability of results across labs, and guidance for managing PCB interferences in pesticide analyses.

Related Standards

• ISO 3890-2 / IDF 75-2 - Test methods for crude extract purification and confirmation (complements Part 1).
• ISO 8260 - Recommended for PCB determination when significant interference is expected.
• ISO 5725 series - Provides guidance on accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility for measurement methods.

Keywords: ISO 3890-1:2009, organochlorine compounds, milk and milk products, extraction methods, pesticide residues, GLC‑ECD, PCBs, dairy testing, residue analysis.