Regional Meeting on Food Safety Serena Hotel, Faisalabad, Pakistan, 16-20 October 2023
Supporting Bangladesh to improve laboratory quality management system (QMS)17-21 September 2023
The 5-day event was hosted by the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB); Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and attended by nearly 40 participants from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Jordan, Lao Read More
PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vanuatu. It was also attended by staff of the IAEA and the Asian Development Bank. This was inaugurated by the Deputy Director General IAEA, Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation Mr Hua Liu on Monday.
The event aimed at raising awareness among key stakeholders on how nuclear, isotopic and related technologies support food safety and quality control and to promote cross-cutting policy dialogue for food safety and trade.
The expected outputs/outcomes are strengthened regional collaboration among key food safety stakeholders including laboratories, regulators, and decision-makers; enhanced coordination mechanisms through existing capacity building and research projects and from 2026 and beyond. These mechanisms would facilitate the consistent implementation of food safety standards and measures across various government ministries and agencies. Food safety priority areas would also be discussed/identified. The participants discussed among others, food safety policy framework; food control management and the role of decision-makers; data and information to support risk-based control measures (including risk-based inspection); technology transfer and dissemination as well as scale-up national laboratory system; food safety communication and education as well as regional collaboration and coordination.
Thirteen laboratory personnel recently received training on improvement of the lab’s quality management system at the Veterinary Drug Residue Analysis Division of the Institute of Food and Radiation Read More
Biology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Research Establishment.
The scope of work included: training and technical guidance on but not limited to General requirements for testing and calibration laboratory with emphasis on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – training, implementation, and auditing; initiating, attaining, and maintaining accreditation; mock laboratory assessment in preparation for accreditation; addressing common challenges with ISO standards (s) and resolving non-compliance; integrating laboratory information management systems into routine testing laboratory. The training, exercises and group work covered during the expert mission equipped the participants with the knowledge and skills in developing and implementing QMS that is in line with 17025:2017. The training presented helped VDRAD personnel to understand the requirements in ISO7025:2017, the QMS options, critical success factors for developing and implementing an effective and efficient QMS and how to integrate laboratory information management system (LIMS) in routine laboratory testing. The training on laboratory competence helped participants to understand laboratory competence and the importance of accurate and timeous result and their impact on stakeholder decisions. It made participants realize that they need to operate with due diligent all the time at all stages along the testing chain. The brief training on risk identification, grading, mitigation strategy and mitigation action appeared to be a challenge hence more time will be needed to explore on the topic and provide the participants with time to do worked examples. There will be need for the participants to have a full training on risk management. A roadmap to attaining accreditation was established.
Participation in research on veterinary drug depletion in an effort to facilitate MRL setting; 3rd technical meeting, Ohrid, North Macedonia, August 21-25, 2023
Involvement in research: participate in the final technical meeting for the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on Mixed contaminants ’ 08-12 May 2023, Vienna, Austria
Network members from Bangladesh, Iran and Pakistan are involved in an ongoing Coordinated Research Project D52043 ‘Depletion of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and Radiometric Analysis of their Residues Read More
in Animal Matrices’. The members attended the 3rd RCM for the CRP that was held hosted by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Ohrid and attended by other scientists from Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Pakistan, Korea, Republic of, Uganda, and Uruguay as well as IAEA staff
The CRP arises from a need to study and evaluate the metabolism and residue depletion kinetics of a priority list of veterinary drugs and related substances used in food-producing animals. Several IAEA Member States have no, or insufficient data to facilitate the setting of internationally or nationally acceptable standards such as maximum residue levels (MRLs) and address pertinent public health and trade bottlenecks. Setting MRLs requires scientific datasets, including residue depletion data, to enable risk assessment by recognized assessors such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and similar bodies. The depletion rates and patterns can be estimated using radiolabelled drugs in target animals. Due to urgent calls by several Member States, the 24th Codex Committee for Residues of Veterinary Drugs (CCRVDF) in foods in May 2018 (FAO/WHO, 2018) identified some priority compounds for immediate attention including, but not limited to: a) amoxicillin in goats, poultry; b) ampicillin in cattle, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, fish, poultry; c) trypanocides, e.g. diminazene, in sheep, goats; d) imidocarb in horses; ivermectin in horses, goats, camels, poultry; e) oxytetracycline in honey, camels, horses, and goats etc. These compounds and animals are a starting point for further work that will greatly help Member States – especially by developing countries – overcome their inabilities to effectively contribute to the process of setting MRLs.
Network members from China, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea recently participated in the final research coordination meeting for a five year D52041 “Integrated Radiometric and Complementary Techniques for Mixed Read More
Contaminants and Residues in Foods: initiated in recognition that current risk management of chemical hazards in food and feed requires reconsideration. Health risk assessments so far consider data from studies on individual chemical hazards, yet humans can simultaneously be exposed to multiple chemicals through consumption of food and drinking water. Such a paradigm shift would require laboratories equipped with the capabilities to analyse a mixture of chemical contaminants (such as mycotoxins) and residues (including veterinary drugs and pesticides). Ensuring fit-for-purpose methods including innovative sample preparation approaches that address the diverse physico-chemical properties of this “cocktails” of hazards, presents a challenge to laboratories hence the CRP. The Members joined 20 other researchers and regulatory institutions from Benin, Botswana, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Italy, Netherlands, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Peru, Spain, South Africa, Uganda and the United States of America (USA). The members contributed several analytical methods and publications. The project also generated new information related to antimicrobial resistance include analytical methods that support monitoring of multiple antimicrobials; the presence of antimicrobial residues at levels as low as reasonably possible, and detection of bacterial genes resistant to selected antimicrobials.
Network Members Enhance knowledge in Risk-Based Drug Residue Monitoring in Food, 03-07 July 2023, Quezon City, Philippines
Supporting Bahrain’s to improve laboratory quality management system (QMS) and prepare for accreditation, 20-24 August, 2023
Thirty-three scientists from 14 countries (Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, and Thailand) Read More
in the Asia-Pacific region participated in this regional training course hosted by the Laboratory Division, National Meat Inspection Service Department of Agriculture, in Quezon City, Philippines. The 5-day training course covered the: new EU regulations on veterinary drug residue and related contaminant testing and monitoring; associated requirements for exporting foods to the EU; Effective planning of a monitoring programme and meeting DG SANTE requirements and implementation recommendations following external evaluation; validation of a range of analytical methods following the new EU guidelines; the role of different stakeholders in meeting national residue monitoring requirements in accordance with EU import regulations for drug residues; case studies/experiences on risk-based monitoring of residues and efforts to implement the new guidelines; as well as an overview of challenges the third countries may encounter in implementing the new EU regulations on drug residues and associated contaminants.
The training also discussed the outcomes of monitoring programs in the EU regarding residues and contaminants. The training further provided information on the National Residue Control Program according to Regulations 2022/1644 and 2022/1646, including the minimum number of samples, and discussed the importance of a representative sample selection in the National Residue Control Plan as well as the role of official and reference laboratories in animal product surveillance in the EU. Other areas covered were the assessment and interpretation of laboratory results by inspectors, with a focus on food and feed control purposes. The requirements for the validation of analytical methods for testing residues and contaminants in the EU were also discussed, including the validation parameters, such as specificity, stability, recovery factor, and detection capability. An overview of Regulation 808/2021, which sets out the requirements for the validation of analytical methods for testing residues and contaminants in the EU, and SANTE/11312/2021, which discusses the requirements related to quality assurance, calibration of equipment, and selection of the methodology for the analysis of pesticide residue testing in accordance with the requirements of ISO 17025 were also addressed.
An expert mission was undertaken to Bahrain to support the Public Health Laboratories Section in preparing for accreditation. Total of 16 participants from the three laboratories of Public Health Read More
Laboratories Section participated in the training programme that include an introduction to and an overview of the international standard ISO/IEC 17025; an international perspective of accreditation; and the introduction of accreditation of Laboratories. Other areas included detailed examples of ISO/IEC 17025 and requirements for the accreditation of laboratories; staff requirements; equipment and Facilities and lab environment as well as metrological traceability. The participants were also trained on method verification & validation including estimation of measurement uncertainty; handling of samples as well internal quality assurance; participation in proficiency testing). Other areas covered were the management system requirements; internal audit; management reviews and what the process of accreditation by relevant bodies entails, as well as ISO 19011 Guideline for auditing. Laboratory reviews addressed documentation, implementation as well as related short comings. Further support is anticipated.
Food safety training on pesticide residue analysis in Mongolia, 12-16 December 2022
Advanced regional training on food safety laboratory quality management – a focus on production of proficiency testing and related material for food safety testing, Thailand, May 8-12. 2023
Following a request from Mongolia about a need to help two laboratories improve their food safety testing capabilities, particularly the analysis of pesticide residues, a national training was organized in Mongolia. Read More
The institutions were Multiplex International LLC City centre and the State Central Veterinary Laboratory. In response, a weeklong training was organized 12-16 December 2022, to among others, provide hands-on training on developing and validating a method for analyzing multiple pesticides; advice on national residue monitoring, and better understanding of established guidelines and practices such as in the European Union. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry staff benefited from lectures and discussions regarding the control of pesticides in food, monitoring the usage of pesticides in plants and plant products, tracking the quality, safety, and risk assessment of agricultural products. Relevant work done the European Food Safety Authority. Multi-analyse control programmes for pesticides: its scientific basis and development over the years; analytical methods for determination of pesticides in food of plant and animal origin were also covered. The EU MRL database and the Rapid Alert system for Food and Feed; international regulatory requirements and proficiency testing among others, were discussed. Training was then provided on analytical method development and validation according to SANTE 11312/2021. With this intervention, the institutions improved their knowledge and understanding on the use as well as limitation of three different types of equipment (HPLC, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS). The request to support the two institutions is a good example of public-private partnership which is important for food safety in a country.
The event was hosted by the Veterinary Drug and Hormone Residues Analysis Section (ASEAN Food Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Drug Residues), Veterinary Public Health Laboratory, Bureau of Quality Control of Livestock Products Read More
The purpose as to contribute towards strengthening the quality management systems in food safety laboratories in the Asia-Pacific, so they render better and reliable services to end users and also contribute to the process of accreditation in the long run. The event will focus training on production, handling and distribution of proficiency testing material for food safety testing according to ISO17043.
The training was conducted over five days and attended by 28 participants from 11 countries Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Jordan, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The training sessions included presentations, group laboratory practical session, group exercises, and interactive discussion regarding the experience of participants either participated in proficiency testing or organized the proficiency testing.
Overall, this addressed: Production of proficiency testing (PT) and certified reference material (CRM) for a food safety laboratory – chemical hazards e.g. veterinary drug and pesticides and mycotoxins etc; handling, processing, transportation of such PT material/CRM; appropriate use of such PTs/CRMs in a food safety laboratory to enhance quality management; troubleshooting challenges associated with production, handling, shipping and supply of PTs and CRMs; guidance (including requirements and preparedness) of a laboratory that wants to produce PTs and CRMs. Others were the planning of an entire PT programme including statistical design; analysis and evaluation of PT data; production of a PT report; case studies on implementation of 17043 and interaction with teams involved in PTs (e.g. veterinary drug and pesticides and mycotoxins etc) It was noted that the level of knowledge of attendees in proficiency testing varied depending on their experiences with ISO/IEC 17043:2016 and ISO 13528. Those who have been providing the proficiency testing to laboratories within their countries showed knowledge mostly in implementing ISO/IEC 17043:2016. There was significant interest in both veterinary drugs and mycotoxins.
Training on sampling and risk assessment in food safety
Several network members recently (late Nov early dec 2022) participated in a regional training course in Pakistan that addressed sampling as part of monitoring residues of veterinary drugs, pesticides and contaminants such as mycotoxins. The workshop Read More
consisted of different seminars, including some practical sampling and analysis of veterinary drug residues and aflatoxin M1 in the residues analysis laboratory. This was hosted by Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) in Faisalabad. The National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) institute was visited. For compliance with Union legislation on food and feed safety, Member States shall carry out risk-based controls on food-producing animals and products (of animal origin), produced in Member States or entering the Union from third countries. It is required that controls shall be included in each Member State’s multi-annual national control plan (MANCP) and comprise three plans: 1) a risk-based control plan for production in the Member State, based on their production data; 2) a risk-based control plan for third-country imports, based on the number of imported consignments (specific minimum percentage of imported consignments per animal species/animal product); 3) a randomized surveillance plan in order to collect information useful to orientate future risk-based controls for production in the Member States, with fixed numbers of samples for each country (mainly based on population size). Additional training was provided on basic statistics and risk assessment.
Network members train on QMS/ISO and perform mock assessment
A regional workshop was organized 5-9 December 2022 At NIAB, Faisalabad focusing on certain aspects of ISO standard such as internal and external audit of QMS, the role of auditor, the risk management study, to enable food safety labs initiate their own internal audit Read More
for their QMS; assess the gaps where to improve with respect to risk management study and prepare for the external accreditation assessment. The event was attended by 24 participants, 13 from different Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Oman, Palestine, Philippines, Syria, Thailand and 11 from a number of local institutions in Pakistan. Participants came from laboratories of food authorities, ministries, and related service providers. A Mock laboratory QMS audit was performed in which participants were assigned individually a separate paragraph from the clauses of the ISO 17025:2017 to prepare their own checklist. Participants alternated as auditors to communicate with auditee (s) and to collect relevant objective evidence. The audited laboratories appreciated the mock audit findings and hope to use the findings to improve respective QMS.
