Category Archives: News

2024 EURL Berlin Proficiency Tests

The EURL Berlin is planning to organise two proficiency tests in 2024. Scheduled for the first and second quarter is a proficiency test on beta-agonists in tissue (liver and lung). The participants will be provided with 3-4 test items produced from incurred samples.

For the third and fourth quarter we are planning a proficiency test on avermectins in bovine milk. For this PT we are also producing 3-4 samples from incurred material.

Laboratories eligible for participation in any of the PTs will be contacted in due time regarding the registration process.

International Training for Safer Food

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of our co-workers in the ITS Food Team we are pleased to invite you to BVL’s International Training for Safer Food. This event is an international training course on food safety risk aimed at staff working in public authorities of non-EU countries handling issues related to food safety. The event will be held virtually in February/March 2024 and will focus on residues and contaminants.

The application period has just started! You may apply online from now on until November 30, 2023.

To adapt the training times for participants from around the globe, we will offer the same training twice for four half days each:

                February, 26 to 29, 2024 (for participants from eastern hemisphere)

                March, 04 to 07, 2024 (for participants from western hemisphere)

You may select only one round. French interpretation will be provided for the second round. The training will be free of charge.

You may now also check out the preview of our programme for ITS Food 2024!

It would be a pleasure to welcome you and your colleagues to this training.

Please feel free to forward this information and spread the word to colleagues who might be interested.

EURL Guidance Document on Screening Method Validation published

In order to support the harmonised interpretation and the implementation of the Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/808 laying down requirements for the performance of methods for the analysis of veterinary drug residues, COM has asked the EURLs to provide guidance documents dealing with specific aspects which might require supplemental information. Now, the EURL Guidance Document on Screening Method Validation has been finalised and is available as of today.

The starting point for the document was the previously available screening guideline in accordance with CD 2002/657. The three EURLs have made sure to retain well-established principles while also updating the document to meet the new requirements. The first draft was circulated within the laboratory network this summer. The NRLs’ feedback was collected and discussed during the ANSES workshop in June. The EURLs would like to sincerely thank all of you for your suggestions and remarks. The feedback was considered for the preparation of this version 1.1 of the guidance document. Although the document represents the EURLs’ interpretation of CIR (EU) 2021/808 and is meant as a support for all laboratories, it is not seen as mandatory to follow. Other approaches are possible, if they provide plausible and comparable results. However, we sincerely hope that you will find the document useful. As is the case with all EURL Guidances, the document is to be understood as non-static, meaning that should you notice aspects which might require further information, you are welcome to submit your remarks to the EURLs for review.

Revised Guidance Document on Method Extension

The EURL guidance document on method extension is now available as version 2.0. A table highlighting the required samples for the reduced validation scheme in accordance with the conventional validation approach has been updated. The EURLs hope that this will facilitate the implementation of the approach and encourage the submission of additional feedback in order to improve the overall quality of the guidance documents.

Revised contaminant legislation

In a field adjacent to the control of residues of veterinary medicinal products in foods, Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 has been adopted recently and will enter into force from 25th May, 2023. This Commission Regulation repeals Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 and deals with maximum levels of certain contaminants in food. The document may be retrieved from EUR-Lex.

Revised EURL guidance document on the quality control during routine analysis

The EURL guidance document on the quality control during routine analysis (ongoing performance verification) is now available as version 1.2. Taking into account the feedback received from the NRLs, a section on the selection of representative analytes on which to monitor the method performance has been introduced. The EURLs hope that this information will be helpful to the laboratories active in the field of the analysis of residues of veterinary medicinal products. The provision of constructive feedback for example during the EURL workshops or by e-mail is encouraged and helps to improve the practicality of the guidance documents.

ANSES EURL Workshop 2023

We are pleased to announce that the EURL workshop organised by the ANSES-Fougeres is planned for 20-22 June 2023 as an on-site event in Fougeres. We are very much looking forward to meeting everyone in person once again and hope for fruitful discussions. Information on the registration and a preliminary programme will be made available by the end of March.

New version of EURL reflection paper

The EURL Wageningen has updated their reflection paper on natural growth promoting substances in biological samples. The paper summarises information on the presence and formation of hormones and other growth promoting substances in food producing animals. Current approaches for enforcement are discussed and research needs for full implementation in residue control are identified.

BVL: EURL Workshop 2023

We are pleased to announce that the EURL workshop organised by the BVL is planned for 3-5 May 2023 as an on-site event in Berlin. We are very much looking forward to meeting everyone in person once again and hope for fruitful discussions. Information on the registration and a preliminary programme will be made available in April.