BCR- and M&T-activities in the area of mycotoxin analysis in food and feedstuffs.
In order to avoid undesirable side effects such as high contents of mycotoxins in food and feed, measurements at critical steps of the food and feed production chain are performed. These measurements need to be accurate and precise to satisfy these aims. The accuracy and precision requirements to measurements form the basis of the Bureau Communautaire de Référence (BCR)-and Measurements and Testing (M&T)-Projects. Such projects aim to improve and/or develop analytical methodology, sampling plans, to harmonise agreement of results between European Union Member States and to prepare suitable certified reference materials (CRMs). The selection of the matrix CRMs and their corresponding level of mycotoxin contamination is made on the basis of requirements of the applied analytical procedures, stability requirements, regulations, norms, and inter-or intra-trade agreements which are in relation to quality specifications of imported and/or exported goods. The availability of appropriate matrix CRMs is not only a prerequisite for the implementation of directives and norms. It allows the validation of new methods and provides a possible solution to trade disputes, means for the statistical control of analytical results, tools for laboratory accreditation, and it is the basis for harmonisation and traceability of proficiency schemes.
Boenke
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European Commission, Measurements and Testing Programme, Brussels, Belgium.
D005504:Food Analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*
D009183:Mycotoxins