EUPT-FV-SM-03 Announcement
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to invite you to participate in the European Proficiency Test in Fruits and Vegetables Screening Methods 03 (EUPT-FV-SM-03), organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Residues of Pesticides in Fruits and Vegetables on behalf of the European Commission, Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General (DG-SANCO).
Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, published at OJ of the EU L70 of 16.03.2005, and last amended by Regulation 839/2008 published at OJ of the EU L234 of 30.08.2008) lays down the general tasks, duties and requirements for EU-RLs for Food, Feed and Animal Health. Among these tasks is the provision of independently organised comparative tests. This year the EURL for pesticides in Fruit and Vegetables at the University of Almerķa, Spain, is going to organise a proficiency test on qualitative screening methods for pesticides in vegetable/fruit commodities.
The EURL-FV finds is continuing this year with a third test. The main reason for this broad acceptance comes from the fact that many laboratories have recently invested in new higher mass accuracy MS systems that allow them to greatly increase the scope of their multiresidue methods.
Another reason for conducting this screening method proficiency test is to gain information from the laboratories on the type of software they used. Whether they are using commercial software and databases, or whether they are internally constructed searched manually. This information will provide an overall view of the purpose of this type of test, and if, in a near future, there is the need to develop new software.
The EURL-FV aim is to be able to use mass spectrometry screening methods routinely, following validation. This is in line with the new Document SANCO/10684/2009 ("Method validation and quality control procedures for pesticide residues analysis in food and feed") available at the link given below:
For the study this year, the EURL-FV will provide a number of different blank matrices of representative vegetables: lettuce, pepper, tomato and courgette to allow laboratories to undertake validation trials.
As for last two years, only qualitative information will be requested for those pesticides that are detected. It has been decided by the Quality Control Group, and based on the received questionnaires, that a target pesticide list will not be provided. The pesticides selected to treat the sample for this EUPT-FV-SM03 will take into account the following considerations:
- Pesticides not included in the Coordinated Multiannual Community Control Programme (Regulation (EC) 901/2009).
- Pesticides that are particularly acutely toxic and/or have low ARfD values.
The test material for the EUPT-FV-SM-03 is mandarin homogenate.
The test material to be analysed will have the same appearance as others used in other EUPT-FVs. The mandarins will be treated and then cryogenically frozen before homogenisation to a fine powder. The treated material will be bottled ready for shipment to participating laboratories. This year because extraction step has to be conducted by the laboratories, an additional day has been allowed before submission of results, therefore a 72 hours deadline will be fixed for result submission this year.
This EUPT-SM-03 is directed at all National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and all Official Laboratories (OfLs) in the EU Member States. Laboratories outside this EURL/NRL/OfL-Network may be allowed to participate on a case-by-case basis after consultation with DG SANCO.
For registration please access HERE. There you can find all the information about this European Union Proficiency Test (Application Form, Specific Protocol and Forms)
OR CLICK HERE TO ACCESS DIRECTLY TO THE APPLICATION FORM
The timetable for this proficiency test is:
CALENDAR
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Publishing the Calendar and Matrix on the Web page | October 2010 |
| Receiving Application Form from invited laboratories. | 1st-30th November 2010 |
| Sample distribution. | 24th January 2011 |
| Deadline for receiving sample acceptance: Fill in Form 0 "Sample receipt". | As soon as received |
| Deadline for receiving results: Fill in "Results Page" | 72 hours after receiving the sample |
| Preliminary Report. Only results, no statistical treatment. | February 2011 |
| Final Report distributed to the Laboratories. | October 2011 |
The test materials, 300 g of mandarin homogenate containing pesticide residues together with 300 g of 'blank' mandarin homogenate, will be shipped to participants on 24th January 2011 (If any laboratories have holidays in the week of the shipment, please inform the organizer to rearrange shipment). NOTE: If your laboratory intends to participate in the EUPT-FV-13 too, only 300g "blank" mandarin homogenate bottle will be shipped for both Proficiency Tests.
VERY IMPORTANT: The deadline for result submission to the Organiser will be 72 hours after receipt of the sample.
In some cases the documents, or the dates, could change. New versions, and/or dates, will be updated on our web page and also an e-mail will be sent to the participants notifying them of the change(s). Please, check the website regularly.
A fee of 150 € for each participating laboratory, including NRLs, will be charged to cover the costs of test material shipment and handling. An invoice will be sent to the "invoice address" stated on the registration from. Payment is expected well in advance of the scheduled shipment date. Details on payment will be shown in the Specific Protocol. ).
NOTE: If your laboratory also participates in the EUPT-FV-13, the shipment fee for EUPT-FV-SM-03 will be free.
For any further question about EUPT-FV-SM-03, please contact:
Ms. Paula Medina
Department of Hydrogeology and Analytical Chemistry
UNIVERSITY OF ALMERĶA
Ctra. de San Urbano s/n
04120 Almerķa
Tel. (34) 950014102
Email: pmedina@ual.es
Mr. Octavio Malato
Department of Hydrogeology and Analytical Chemistry
UNIVERSITY OF ALMERĶA
Ctra. de San Urbano s/n
04120 Almerķa
Tel. (34) 950015531
Email: omalato@ual.es
Best Regards,
he EUPT-FV-SM-03 Organizing-Team
Published 19-10-2010, 16:41:25
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