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3. LABORATORY ACTIVITIES

CAFIA Laboratories

In 2003 the CAFIA mainly conducted physical, chemical, microbiological, molecular-biochemical and sensory analyses of agricultural and food products in its own laboratories. In case of special determinations, for example demonstration of exogenous water in half-fermented young wine (the so-called “burčák”), prove of antibiotics in honey, or determination of chlorinated pesticides of HCH, DDT types, which are not performed in the CAFIA laboratories, cooperation with external laboratories both in the Czech Republic and abroad was commenced. Some Czech laboratories we cooperated with were the laboratories of the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, State Veterinary Institute in Jihlava, Health Institute based in Ostrava, etc. As to the foreign laboratories, we commenced cooperation for example with the Austrian laboratory of the research center, Seiberdorf research, Vienna, or with the German laboratory of the Institut für Honig-Analytik, Bremen.

In the first quarter of 2003 new testing methods on equipment brought from laboratories of Inspectorates in Hradec Králové and Olomouc were introduced to the laboratories of Inspectorates in Prague and Brno. This particularly concerned the testing of aflatoxins in the laboratory of the Prague Inspectorate and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and laboratory testing of agricultural products in the laboratory of the Brno Inspectorate.

In the second quarter of 2003 the accreditation process of the microbiological laboratory of the CAFIA Inspectorate in Tábor according to the requirements of the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17025 Standard was completed. On 2/7/2003 the Czech Institute for Accredication, o.p.s. (ČIA, o.p.s.), issued the Certificate of Accreditation for the CAFIA laboratory in Tábor. Currently this microbiological laboratory has 29 methods accredited. In this period the change of the subject of accreditation of the CAFIA laboratory of the Inspectorate in Hradec Králové was carried out from chemical, microbiological and sensory tests only to microbiological tests in the framework of extraordinary supervision of ČIA, o.p.s. As of August 2003 this microbiological laboratory holds the Certificate of Accreditation applying to 34 microbiological testing methods.

In the third quarter of 2003, in the framework of extraordinary supervision of ČIA, o.p.s., the accreditation was ensured of testing methods that had been introduced at the beginning of 2003 in the laboratories of Inspectorates in Prague and Brno. From October of that year the laboratory of the Inspectorate in Prague holds the Certificate of Accreditation applying to 543 physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory testing methods. The laboratory of the CAFIA Inspectorate in Brno also acquired the Certificate of Accreditation in October of that year. It is accredited to 788 physical, chemical, microbiological, molecular-biochemical and sensory testing methods.

Inter-laboratory comparison tests

Since 1993 the CAFIA has regularly organized inter-laboratory comparison tests (the ILPT system) that are incorporated in the International System of Comparison Tests. In the majority of cases the ILPT organization and evaluation is carried out in cooperation with the CIA. In 2003 the following six rounds of comparison tests were conducted with the participation of 80 laboratories: 

• 1) Determination of additives in wine (sorbic acid, citric acid and sulphur dioxide); 45 laboratories participated in the test.
• 2) Classic methods of wine testing (alcohol, sugar, sugar-free extract and volatile acids); 44 laboratories participated in the test.
• 3) Determination of substitute sweeteners and preservatives in strawberry jam; 18 laboratories participated in the test.
• 4) Determination of some mineral substances in non-milk children food; 11 laboratories participated in the test.
• 5) Determination of patulin in apple baby food; 7 laboratories participated in the test.
• 6) Quantitative determination of microorganisms, bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family, coliform bacterial at 37oC, coliform bacteria at 44oC, and E.coli; 35 laboratories participated in the test.

The CAFIA laboratories regularly participate in international comparison tests: for testing the qualification of chemical and microbiological laboratories in accordance with the requirements of the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17025 Standard.

In 2003 the physical-chemical laboratories of the CAFIA Inspectorates in Prague and Brno participated in 14 tests in the FAPAS system (The Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme) organised by the Central Science Laboratory (Great Britain) and in 7 tests in the CHEK system (Chemical and Quality Assurance) organized by the Inspectorate for Health Protection and Veterinary Public Health (the Netherlands). The molecular-biochemical laboratory of the CAFIA Inspectorate in Brno participated in one test in the GeMMA system (Genetically Modified Material Analysis Scheme) organized by the Central Science Laboratory (Great Britain).

The microbiological laboratories of the CAFIA Inspectorates in Prague, Brno, Hradec Králové and Tábor participated in 8 tests in the FEPAS system (The Food Evaluation Performance Assessment Scheme) organised by the Central Science Laboratory (Great Britain) and in 8 tests of the NFA organised by the National Food Administration, Sweden.