Laboratory quality assurance
 In supporting food control systems, the role of food and feed testing laboratories
is essential in ensuring compliance with national regulations and international
requirements in all areas of food safety and quality.
Since the late 1990s, Codex and the European Union have recommended
(or required) that laboratories responsible for controlling the export and
import of foods comply with an internationally recognized standard such as
ISO Standard 17025 (General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration
and Testing Laboratories), and be accredited by a certified body.
The systematic application of laboratory quality assurance measures helps
ensure that food control laboratories produce reliable analytical results.
These measures include having an adequate laboratory infrastructure, up-to-date
documentation, well-trained personnel, appropriate and calibrated instrumentation
and using of internationally recognised and validated methods.
Method performance can be demonstrated through validation procedures
such as proficiency or interlaboratory studies, the use of reference materials,
and the application of statistical evaluation techniques. The application of
laboratory quality assurance measures like these can both help identify problems
in analysis and facilitate the application of suitable corrective actions.
In assisting FAO Member Countries, AGNS has organised various
regional training workshops on developing laboratory quality assurance schemes
for the analysis of mycotoxins and other chemicals in food and feed.
See also
Chemicals in food > Mycotoxins
Capacity building and training > Training events |
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