Protocol Monitoring Aflatoxin B1 in maize and by-products of maize - Harvest 2025/2026

With the forthcoming new maize harvest, the classification of countries also takes into account information on growing and harvesting conditions. In addition, consideration has been given to countries where a possible mix with old (2024) harvest from high- or medium risk countries could pose a risk to feed safety. 

• Based on these criteria, it was decided that at the beginning of the 2025 harvest year all countries should initially be classified as medium risk, with the exception of:
• 18 countries have been classified as low risk.
• 2 countries, Serbia and Romania, have been classified as high risk.

According to the re-evaluation rules, countries that ended the previous harvest season as high risk automatically start the new season at the same level. Serbia and Romania retain their high-risk status for this reason.

Changed risk profiles: 

• Slovakia - raised from low to medium 

This means that maize originating from Slovakia must be analysed more frequently. 

This new risk profile takes effect as from 11 September 2025. 

Note:
Maize originating from a country classified as high risk must be analysed more frequently, because the risk of the presence of Aflatoxin B1 is considered high. For more details consult  TS1.7 Monitoring - Aflatoxin risk classification list. 

We do it together!
To enable the reclassification of countries, it is important that GMP+ participants upload their analysis results to the  GMP+ Monitoring database and share them with our community. 

Be careful
Incorrect analysis results in the database can affect the evaluation and risk classification of countries. 

When uploading information, please ensure that:

• the origin of the maize is entered correctly; and
• that the levels of Aflatoxin detected are entered using the correct unit (mg/kg). 

Ask your laboratory to report in the correct unit

• Ask your laboratory to report analysis results in the same unit as stated in  TS1.5  Specific Feed Safety Limits. 

For Aflatoxin, the correct unit is mg/kg. This will help you when you when checking result against the applicable feed safety limits in TS1.5 and also ensures compliance with the requirement of the GMP+ Monitoring database to report the result in this unit. If the analysis result is in ppb, you must first convert it to mg/kg. 

Why is this important?
Analysing monitoring results is an important source of information for GMP+ International in determining potential risks. It also supports the development of Risk Management tools that help you and the feed industry as a whole, to become more resilient. 

Previous changes in risk profiles
Since September 2024 the risk profiles of countries of origin have changed as follows: