Proficiency testing as a tool to assess quality of data: the experience of the EU Reference Laboratory for chemical elements in food of animal origin

AbstractQuality and reliability of analytical results are, in general, key issues for all laboratories but become a top priority for laboratories accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025:2005. In this international standard the proficiency testing (PT) is regarded as a means to assure the validity of results. Nowadays, the proved competence of laboratories is an essential requirement especially for that structures that are involved in the official controls aimed at ensuring the safety of EU food products and the public health. To guarantee the EU consumers, the Council and the Commission have designated 28 European Union Reference Laboratories (EURLs) for food and feed, whose main role is to contribute to the standardization of analytical methods and to the harmonization of performance among the EU National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) to reach a comparable level of quality in the analytical data among all Member States. With this aim, the organization of PTs is a task that each EURL has to accomplish. Over the last 15 years, the EURL for chemical elements in food of animal origin (EURL-CEFAO) have organized 32 PTs on determination of total As, Cd, Pb and total Hg in meat, milk, fish and offal for the benefit of its network of NRLs. Some specific aspects of this activity will be discussed (e.g. preparation and characterization of PT materials, statistical evaluation of data, follow-up actions). Finally, based on the EURL-CEFAO experience, it will be demonstrated that the participation into PTs on a regular basis can result in an improvement of the laboratory’s performance as well as in the harmonization of the results submitted by participants.

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Monitoring of dioxins and related toxic compounds in food of animal origin in Greece

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.14843 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 141 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I. VASSILIADOU (Ε. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑΔΟΥ) ◽

D. COSTOPOULOU (Δ. ΚΩΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ) ◽

L. LEONTIADIS (Λ. ΛΕΟΝΤΙΑΔΗΣ)

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Food Products ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Reference Laboratory ◽

Toxic Compounds ◽

Eu Regulation ◽

Food Of Animal Origin ◽

Analysis Laboratory ◽

Dioxin Contamination ◽

The Eu

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and "dioxin-like" polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental pollutants belonging to the persistent organic pollutants (POPs). PCDDs and PCDFs have never been produced intentionally, but they are formed by incomplete combustion of organic material in the presence of chlorine, during industrial processes or intentional and unintentional burning of solid waste. PCBs have been produced industrially as mixtures and have been used in various applications, though their production has been banned since the 1970's. Their toxicity is mediated through the interaction with the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor, causing severe health effects to humans after chronic exposure, which include developmental and immunological effects, carcinogenicity and chloracne. More than 90% of the daily human intake is due to food ingestion and especially, to the consumption of fat-containing animal food products, due to the lipophilic nature of these compounds. In order to control food contamination by these compounds, the European Union has set maximum limits for PCDD/Fs and PCBs in food products (EU Regulation 1881/2006/EC). The Mass Spectrometry and Dioxin Analysis Laboratory of "NCSR" Demokritos has been operating since 2002 and it performs analysis of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in food, feed, biological and environmental samples, applying international protocols of analysis (EPA 1613, EPA 1668), based on appropriate sample clean-up and determination by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), using the isotope dilution method, as specified by the EU Regulation 1883/2006/EC. The Laboratory has been accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025 by ESYD and it is the National Reference Laboratory of the European Commission for Greece and Cyprus. Here we present here a comprehensive report of the activities of the Mass Spectrometry and Dioxin Analysis Laboratory during its operation, concerning the monitoring of dioxins and similar toxic compounds in food of animal origin in Greece. Through collaboration with the official bureaus of food, environment and health control organizations of Greece, the Laboratory has conducted analysis in a large number of food and animal feed products sampled randomly in the Greek market. The results are well below the EU maximum levels and, in general, lower than those monitored in other European and Mediterranean countries. This has been attributed to the fact that Greece is not highly industrialized and has never produced PCBs and does not perform systematic waste incineration. On the other hand, samples have been collected and analysed from areas suspected for dioxin contamination, such as areas affected by accidental fires, landfills or exposed to industrial pollution. In some of these cases, unusually high levels of dioxin contamination in food samples of animal origin have been observed, in some cases above EU limits, and appropriate measures have been taken by Greek authorities to prevent their consumption and to restore normal dioxin levels.

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Identification, confirmation and quantification of sulfonamides in kidney and meat of food-producing animals by HPLC-PDA

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.15757 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 115

Author(s):

A. Ε. TIRPENOU ◽

A. D. TSIGOURI (Α. Δ. ΤΣΙΓΟΥΡΗ) ◽

E. H. GOUTA (E.H. ΓΟΥΤΑ)

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phase ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Array Detector ◽

Reference Laboratory ◽

Sulfa Drug ◽

Food Of Animal Origin ◽

Drug Determination ◽

Meat Samples

Residue monitoring in animal husbandry and in food of animal origin is based on the implementation of a Surveillance Scheme, according to the legislation (Directive 86/469/EEC1, N. D. 497/89% Regulation (EEC) 2377/903, Directive 96/23/EU4). Among our obligations as a European Union National Reference Laboratory (EU-NRL), we have to develope screening and confirmatory methods. Towards the development and validation of these confirmatory techniques, als for the group of antimicrobials, a method has been developed for sulfa drug determination. These substances are used extensively in livestock for therapeutic as well as for growth promotin purposes. Diserens et al., 19915 method with our modifications, is used in our laboratory to confirm the Four Plate Test6 suspect kidney and meat samples sent from the Regional Field Laboratories (RFLs) of the Ministry of Agriculture. The method's steps are: extraction, concentration and quantitative elution of sulfa drugs using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) and their identification, confirmation and quantitation by HPLC/UV with a Photo Diode Array detector. The column used was Hypersil ODS, 5 μιη (250 x 4.6 mm) and the mobile phase was 0.01 M ammonium acetate buffer pH 4.6/MeOH at a gradient mode. The wavelength was monitored at 266 nm, the flow rate of the mobile phase was l.lmL.min ' and the injection volume was 20 μL. 12 sulfonamides can be simultaneously detected in one run at concentrations as low as 20 μg/kg. The recovery ranges from 60 to 88% for spiked samples at the Maximum Residue Limit of 100 μg/kg.

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Evaluation of slaughterhouse supervision by Veterinary Inspectorate

Medycyna Weterynaryjna ◽

10.21521/mw.6071 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

pp. 6071-2018

Author(s):

MARIUSZ Z. FELSMANN ◽

MAŁGORZATA LISIOWSKA ◽

IRENEUSZ SOŁTYSZEWSKI ◽

JÓZEF SZAREK ◽

DOMINIKA GULDA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transition Period ◽

Negative Evaluation ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Progressive Reduction ◽

Upward Trend ◽

Food Of Animal Origin ◽

Potential Risks ◽

Statistical Trends ◽

Sanitary Conditions ◽

The Eu

Owing to its properties, food of animal origin is subject to special supervision by the Veterinary Inspectorate (VI), and food production requires close adherence to official regulations. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the veterinary supervision of abattoirs in Poland on the basis of data generated by the VI in 2005-2015, which are available on the website of the General Veterinary Office (the RRW-5 report). The data from the reports for particular years were used to determine statistical trends for the number of official decisions (warnings and prohibitions) issued by the IV for supervised and controlled abattoirs. It was found that in 2005-2006 (i.e. the transition period, during which abattoirs not yet in compliance with the EU requirements were allowed to operate) there was a 31.36% reduction in the number of abattoirs (from 762 to 521) with a negative evaluation issued by the VI. In 2007, the number of such abattoirs was comparable (1,432) to that in the previous years, but the VI issued more negative opinions (by 16.52%) than in the previous years because of more restrictive regulations. The results of such actions became visible in 2008, when the number of abattoirs decreased to 731, and the number of those with a negative assessment decreased by 33.28%. Starting from 2010, there was a progressive reduction in the number of decisions issued by the VI: in 2015, it was 66.32% smaller than in 2010 (a drop from 2,500 to 967). The number of decisions decreased along with the number of abattoirs in which poor sanitary conditions were found. An increase in the number of negatively assessed abattoirs results in the VI issuing administrative decisions: first, official warnings (to eliminate irregularities) and then prohibition notices (to stop production). Compared with the years 2005-2013, the years 2014-2015 saw a similar number of warnings and the lowest number of prohibition notices. Although the total number of administrative decisions and prohibition notices issued during 2005-2015 showed a clear downward trend, there was an upward trend in the number of warnings. By using administrative tools commensurate with potential risks to consumers, the VI improves sanitary conditions in abattoirs or eliminates them from the market. The analysis conducted in this study suggests that the sanitary conditions of animal slaughterhouses in Poland are satisfactory, which is partly attributable to the appropriate supervision of such facilities by the VI. .

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Occurrence of chemical contaminants in animal products during 1999–2016 in the Czech Republic

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-12-2017-0672 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 120 (9) ◽

pp. 2142-2154

Author(s):

Martina Tunegová ◽

Eva Samková ◽

Lucie Hasoňová ◽

Marcela Klimešová ◽

Aneta Marková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Raw Material ◽

Animal Origin ◽

The European Union ◽

Animal Products ◽

Chemical Contaminants ◽

Content Type ◽

Food Of Animal Origin ◽

Before And After ◽

The Eu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the results of inspections carried out by the State Veterinary Administration (SVA) of Czech Republic (CR) for the occurrence of chemical contaminants in animal products before and after CR entered the European Union (EU). Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from e-databases of the SVA from 1999–2016 and sorted into categories (game animals and fish; livestock; food and raw material of animal origin) and time periods (one before entry and two after entry of CR to the EU). Analyses of the samples were categorized as “positive samples” (any presence of contaminants) and “samples above the MRL” (presence of contaminants exceeding the maximum residue levels). Findings Results showed a significant decrease in the number of positive findings of contaminants during the monitored years 1999–2016, especially after CR entered the EU. Most encouragingly, the number of samples that exceeded the MRL was less than 1 percent from all the tested samples of animal origin and, after entry to the EU, in one category (food and raw materials of animal origin) it was even less than 0.1 percent. Findings of banned substances indicate continued environmental contamination in CR; however, this remains a problem in most of Europe due to their extensive use in the past and slow degradation. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of the occurrence of chemical contaminants and their levels in food of animal origin in view of the changing legislative requirements before and after CR entered the EU.

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AGROINFLATION AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS: UKRAINE-EU COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Economy of Ukraine ◽

10.15407/economyukr.2018.01.028 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 (1) ◽

pp. 28-39

Author(s):

Ruslan MUDRAK ◽

◽

Volodymyr LAGODIENKO ◽

Keyword(s):

Price Index ◽

Consumer Price Index ◽

Research Problem ◽

Food Prices ◽

Production Costs ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Food Of Animal Origin ◽

Business Entities ◽

The Impact ◽

The Eu

One of the fundamental conditions for food security is a sufficient level of economic access to food; so, finding the reasons for rising consumer food prices is an urgent research problem. In view of this, the purpose of the article is to determine the extent and causes of the impact of agricultural price index on consumer price index for foodstuffs on the basis of comparison of the phenomena studied in Ukraine and the EU. The following conclusions are drawn: (i) some Ukrainian households are in a state of food hazards due to excessive expenses for buying food; one of the main reasons for this is the constant rise in food prices; (ii) over the past 20 years in Ukraine, prices for foodstuffs rose 11.8 times, agricultural products – 23.5 times; in the EU they increased by 45% and 32%, respectively; (iii) the main source of inflationary impulses in Ukraine’s food market is agroinflation in the livestock sector of agriculture; (iv) sectoral structure of agricultural production is noticeably distorted in Ukraine: the share of livestock industries accounts for only 31.5%, which is by 12.3 pp less than that in the EU. This is the main reason for the shortage of food products of livestock production; (v) per capita production of all types of meat is by 40% higher in the EU than in Ukraine; that of milk – by 21.5% higher; (vi) in the EU (unlike Ukraine), production and consumption of foodstuffs, in particular of animal origin, are of a relatively high level of stability; (vii) export-import operations in Ukraine with food of animal origin are aimed at providing the narrow corporate interests irrespective of national ones; (viii) in Ukraine, unlike the EU, more than 99% of livestock business entities are small organizational forms that hold less than 5 heads of livestock. Such farms have relatively higher production costs; (ix) the reason for agroinflation and growth of consumer price index for foodstuffs in Ukraine is the lack of compensators of production costs in the form of budget subsidies.

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The EU system of reference laboratories for residues in food of animal origin

Accreditation and Quality Assurance ◽

10.1007/s00769-004-0823-0 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

RainerW. Stephany

Keyword(s):

Animal Origin ◽

Food Of Animal Origin ◽

The Eu

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THE FAILURE TO SIGN THE UKRAINE-EU ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2013)

Sums'ka Starovyna (Ancient Sumy Land) ◽

10.21272/starovyna.2019.55.3 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 30-45

Author(s):

V. I. Denysenko

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

European Integration ◽

Trade Unions ◽

Main Role ◽

Ruling Elite ◽

Association Agreement ◽

Russian President ◽

The Government ◽

Vladimir Putin ◽

The Eu

The failure to sign the Association Agreement with the EU in autumn 2013 has been investigated. The role of the Russian factor, which became decisive in the foreign policy reversal of the Yanukovych regime, has been revealed. The importance of Viktor Yanukovych’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, 2013, in the dramatic change of Ukraine’s international vector has been emphasized. On the basis of diplomats’ memoirs, the assumption about intimidation of the Ukrainian President by the Russian side has been substantiated. The timeline of the preparation of the 2013 Vilnius Summit, the position of EU structures and the attempts of the fourth President of Ukraine to win time to trade with the Russians have been reproduced. The thesis about the Donetsk clan’s attempts to prepare public opinion for a 180 degree turn in late October - early November 2013 has been presented. For this purpose, demonstration meetings were organized with representatives of Ukrainian business and trade unions, who called for revision of plans for European integration on their own initiative. The main role in manipulating public opinion rested on the government of Mykola Azarov and the Verkhovna Rada, which had a majority coalition led by the Party of Regions. Instead, Viktor Yanukovych continued his European integration rhetoric and reiterated to Western partners his own willingness to sign the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. On November 21, the real position of the ruling elite was made available to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. According to it, the process of preparation for the signing of the Association Agreement was suspended, the proposal was made for the trilateral Ukraine-EU-Russia negotiations, and the ministries were tasked with developing measures to maintain economic ties with the CIS countries. The decision was rejected by European partners and led to Yanukovych’s attempts to find other ways to thwart the signing of the Agreement. It has been proved that this role was played by Yanukovych’s requirements for financial assistance from the EU amounting to about 160 billion euros, which aimed to prevent the signing of the Association Agreement. Key words: Viktor Yanukovych, association of Ukraine with the EU, эYulia Tymoshenko, European integration, Pat Cox, Alexander Kwasniewski, Vladimir Putin.

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Undeclared (Poly)phosphates Detection in Food of Animal Origin as a Potential Tool toward Fraud Prevention

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10071547 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1547

Author(s):

Radmila Pavlovic ◽

Federica Di Cesare ◽

Francesca Longo ◽

Franco Abballe ◽

Sara Panseri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽

Exchange Chromatography ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Food Of Animal Origin ◽

Conductometric Detection ◽

Q Exactive ◽

Phosphate Treatment ◽

Potential Tool ◽

Vulnerable Population Groups

(Poly)phosphates are approved as water-preserving and emulsifying agents that improve the appearance and consistency of many food products. The labelling of added (poly)phosphates is essential for protecting vulnerable population groups and to prevent unfair trade practices resulting in economic fraud. The problems with (poly)phosphates’ utilisation concerns both analytical and legislative issues, such as: (1) their straightforward detection; (2) excessive addition altering freshness perception and misleading consumers; (3) uncontrolled usage increasing foodstuff weight; (4) application in products where they are not permitted; and (5) no indication on the label. Bearing all these issues in mind, the main purpose of this study was the quantification and screening of the (poly)phosphates profile in meat, marine and dairy products (160 samples), of which 43 were without declared (poly)phosphate treatment. Analysis was completed by high-performance ion-exchange chromatography either with conductometric detection or coupled to Q-Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Although the (poly)phosphates profiles varied greatly according to species and processing type, the following criteria for detection of illicit treatment were established: high orthophosphate level, quantified short-chain (poly)phosphate anions and the presence of long-chain forms. In conclusion, the instrumental platforms used in this study can be recommended to inspection bodies as reliable methods for the detection of food adulteration with (poly)phosphates.

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