Über uns150 Experts on Pesticide Analytics Meet in Stuttgart
Ein Bericht aus unserem Laboralltag
Ellen Scherbaum, Catherine Leiblein (Translator)
The joint workshop for the four EU reference laboratories for pesticide analytics took place this year in the Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, from 30 September to 2 October. More than 150 participants from all EU member states as well as visitors from third countries came from the national reference laboratories and official laboratories of their respective countries. The goal of this biannual event is to ensure that the quality of official food and feed control carried out through all of Europe is at a uniformly high level. In this regard, the topics discussed included laboratory proficiency tests, which put the performance of the participating laboratories to the test, as well as the updating and further development of quality standards that are binding for all official laboratories in Europe.
Dr. Kurt Mezger, division president of the Regional Council of Stuttgart, greeted the international experts in the prestigious König-Karl-Saal („King Karl hall”) on behalf of the regional government. The close cooperation between the reference laboratories and the EU Commission was visible; EU representative Ms. Veerle Vanheusden reported on future legal developments, and Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) representative Jan von Kietzell presented the activities of his officials in the field of organic agriculture.
The organization of this international workshop kept our pesticide team working around the clock in the last weeks; in addition to the conference venue and program, the corresponding hotel accommodations and free time activities were carefully planned in order to provide a comfortable stay and ensure a successful workshop for all.
Background Information
European reference laboratories in the field of pesticides
The Chemical and Veterinary Investigations Offices of Freiburg and Stuttgart have been European reference laboratories in the field of pesticides since July, 2006. The task of the European reference laboratories is to ensure the quality, precision, and comparability of the analytical results of the official labs in the community.
The tasks are defined in Article 32 of Regulation (EC) Nr. 882/2004, as follows:
The community reference laboratories for feed and food are responsible for:
- the establishment of a network between the European, national and official reference laboratories of the member states (currently there are 293 official pesticide labs in the EU laboratory network);
- development of methods and collection of information on analytical procedures;
- the annual conducting of proficiency tests (ring trials) to ensure quality;
- the annual conducting of trainings and continuing-education courses for national reference laboratory personnel as well as for experts from developing countries;
- providing scientific and technical support to the Commission for analytical issues (e.g. establishment of laws related to authorizing and setting maximum levels for pesticide use);
- arbitrational analyses in cases where member states have filed an appeal against analytical results; and
- cooperation with laboratories in third countries that are responsible for the analyses of feed and food.
The community reference laboratories fulfill the following requirements:
They must
- have sufficient qualified personnel with appropriate education;
- have the equipment needed to carry out their tasks;
- have an appropriate administrative infrastructure;
- ensure that their personnel observes strict confidentiality;
- have sufficient knowledge of international norms and practices;
- have a current list of available reference substances;
- be mindful of research conducted on a national and community level;
- have qualified personnel that could be deployed to work in the community in the case of an emergency.
The community reference laboratories working in the field of pesticides include:
For cereals and feed:
National Food Institute, Department of Food Chemistry
Danish Technical University (DTU)
DK-2860 Soeborg, Denmark
Director: Mette Erecius Poulsen
For food of animal origin and fatty foods
Chemical and Veterinary Investigations Office (CVUA) Freiburg
D-Bissierstraße 5, 79114 Freiburg, Germany
Director: Ralf Lippold
For Fruit and Vegetables
Laboratorio Agrario de la Generalitat Valenciana (LAGV)
Grupo de Residuos de Plaguicidas de la Universidad de Almería (PRRG)
LAGV: E-46100 Burjassot-Valencia
PRRG: E-04120 Almería, Spain
Director: Amadeo Fernandez Alba
For substances that require special single residue methods (in food and feed)
Chemical and Veterinary Investigations Office (CVUA) Stuttgart
D-Schaflandstr. 3/2, 70736 Fellbach, Germany
Director: Michelangelo Anastassiades
A detailed presentation of the laboratories is available on the EURL Homepage.
The reference laboratories conduct annual workshops, to which representatives of all the national reference laboratories are invited. Every two years there is a joint workshop for all four EURLs, with about 150 participants. This workshop took place in 2015 in Stuttgart. Information regarding the program is available on the EURL website.
Pictures
CVUA Stuttgart.