Our expertise
National Reference Laboratory for feed additives and
heavy metals in animal feed
LGC was appointed UK National Reference
Laboratory for feed additives and heavy metals in animal feed by
the UK Food Standards Agency in July 2009 to carry out the
functions as described in Article 33 of Commission Regulation (EC)
882/2004, and additional functions required by the Food Standards
Agency (FSA). The following programme of work has been agreed:
1. Core function 1:
Secretariat service
- LGC to open dialogue with FSA and
Agricultural Analysts on the mechanism for carrying out NRL
activities and for establishing communication between with
OCLs
, the NRL
and EU-RLs.
- Provide secretariat services as required. One
activity is the requirement to monitor the accreditation status of
the OCLs. This will be carried out by monitoring status from
the UKAS database and consultations with OCLs as
necessary.
- Liaise with the EU-RL and circulate relevant
information to UK OCLs as required.
2. Core function 2:
Advice and representation within the UK / EU
- Attend relevant meetings as required by EU-RL
/ FSA in relevant areas and submit a summary report on
activities.
- Monitor emerging legislation in consultation
with FSA to ensure that analytical capabilities of UK OCLs are
available to support legislative requirements. Circulate
information to OCLs as appropriate.
- Provide advice on analytical issues to the
FSA and the OCLs as required.
- Attend EU CEN meetings in the area of animal
feed additives and heavy metals in feed and disseminate activities
to FSA and UK OCLs. A large amount of work is currently carried out
by CEN TC327 (animal feedstuffs) in the development of Official
standard methods. LGC to participate in relevant CEN
activities with the agreement of FSA and disseminate activities to
the UK OCLs and interested stakeholders. LGC will coordinate OCL
activities in CEN / EU-RL studies if appropriate.
3. Core function 3:
Production of Standard Operating Procedures, Codes of Practice and
Guidance Documents
- Assist the FSA in the production of relevant
documents as required and disseminate to OCLs.
4. Core function 4:
Compliance Assessment via Audits and Proficiency
Testing
- There is currently no EU-RL testing programme
in the area of feed additives. There are however, some activities
carried out within the CEN standardisation programme. LGC will
agree with FSA in which relevant activities to participate in and
disseminate results to OCLs.
- Participate in proficiency tests and method
validation studies organised by the EU-RL, inform the FSA of the
results and implement any corrective measures required;
- Both FSA and OCLs will be consulted as to
which areas would benefit from proficiency testing. LGC will
conduct proficiency tests for UK OCLs and other relevant
laboratories as appropriate (taking into account the number of
relevant laboratories), analyse and evaluate the outcome, inform
FSA and OCLs of the results and advise on further action. Possible
areas for PT studies are Vitamin A & carotenoids, and
coccidiostats.
- It may be possible to carry out some training
activities if time and funds permit.
5. Core function 5:
Co-ordination within the UK of CRL Initiatives
- LGC will disseminate relevant information on
EU-RL initiatives, or other relevant issues to stakeholders as
required.
6.
Output
7.
Formulation of next year’s programme.
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