In short
Our laboratory acts as the national reference laboratory (NRL) for analyses of environmental and process contaminants in food in Belgium, in collaboration with the University of Liege. We monitor whether concentrations of contaminants, such as acrylamide, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) or PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), exceed the applicable standards.
Our role consists of maintaining a high level of quality and reliability during analyses of these contaminants by the approved laboratories in Belgium. To ensure this is achieved, we provide them with scientific and technical support, and collaborate with the European and international analytical community.
Project description
We act as the national reference laboratory (NRL) for environmental and process contaminants in food in Belgium, in collaboration with the University of Liege.
Based on our expertise, we oversee the approved laboratories that analyse contaminants in our food at the request of the FASFC. We are in charge of the scientific and technical support for these laboratories and monitor their analytical performance.
We develop new, innovative analytical methods designed to detect the presence of pesticide residues in our food. We study:
- process contaminants (acrylamide, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), MCPDs, etc.); and
- environmental contaminants (PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), flame retardants and perfluoroalkylated substances).
We study these contaminants both in matrices of plant origin (fruit, vegetables and cereals) and in matrices of animal origin (meat, milk, eggs, fish and honey).
We also act as the link between the approved laboratories in Belgium and our European and international counterparts in the field of pesticides for the purpose of maintaining consistency in laboratory practice.
We provide scientific and technical advice in support of the FASFC’s policy.
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