Support for a European Metrology Network on Food Safety

Safe food is a prerequisite for good human health however currently almost one in ten people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated food. National food safety authorities need to be able to manage food safety risks along the entire food chain. The Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 was put in place to ensure that food and feed law stipulates the need for validated analytical methods. However, whilst food safety method development and proficiency testing are well established by European Union Reference Laboratories and National Reference Laboratories, validation of the measurements involved, certified reference materials and internationally recognised calibration and measurement capabilities are currently lacking. This erodes trust in the accuracy of the measurements.

This project aimed to accelerate the set-up of a European Metrology Network (EMN) on Food Safety; involving on-going dialogue between the metrology community, reference laboratories and regulatory bodies. This dialogue has then been used to (i) identify stakeholders’ needs, (ii) develop a sustainable knowledge-sharing programme and web-based platform for stakeholders and (iii) develop roadmaps and a strategic research agenda. Improved access to more reliable and accurate food safety measurements will allow reference laboratories to more confidently and effectively compare their measurement results and provide accreditation. This is particularly important where national food safety authorities need to assess potential new contaminants, novel food ingredients and newly emerging food risks, and new measurements methods may be required as well as input into new documentary standards.