News
21-May-2009 - LGC is appointed UK National
Reference Laboratory for GMO analysis
LGC leads the way in detecting and quantifying
genetically modified ingredients in foods
LGC, the international
science-based service company, has been appointed as the UK
National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for the analysis of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed. This appointment
confirms LGC’s position at the forefront of analytical science for
the detection and quantification of genetically modified (GM)
ingredients.
LGC’s appointment by the
Food Standards Agency on behalf of the European Commission is
under Regulation (EC) 882/2004, which aims to remove variation in
the monitoring and enforcement of feed and food law. The NRL for
GMOs will maintain an archive of control materials used to identify
GM material, provide expert and impartial advice to official
control laboratories in relation to best practice in GM analysis
and keep the UK network of official control laboratories abreast of
new and emerging national and international GM issues and
legislation.
Policy decisions on the use
of developing GM technology are outside the remit of the NRL.
However, the ability to correctly identify and analyse for GM
material supports consumer choice and food safety.
The NRL may also be called
upon to train analysts in the most applicable strategies for
analysing GM material, as well as contributing to and helping
co-ordinate any national validation plans for the detection of GM
material between official control laboratories.
As a company, LGC brings to
these tasks the benefits of its 170 year history of innovative and
leading-edge analytical science. LGC has a broad international
portfolio of business, from the food chain through to forensic
science and pharmaceuticals. LGC supplies reference materials and
proficiency testing schemes to laboratories throughout the world
through its LGC Standards division,
which underscores its commitment to excellence in analysis. LGC
Standards is an authorised distributor of IRMM reference materials,
one of the world’s leading producers of reference materials for
genetically modified food and crops. Allied to its project
management and training business LGC has extensive experience of
the provision of advice and services to governments and public and
private sector organisations.
John McQuillian, Director of
LGC’s Life & Food Sciences Division, commented: “This
appointment is a mark of the international recognition of LGC’s
expertise and leading edge capabilities in this field, including
the experience of our expert scientists and the equipment we
use".
LGC also acts as the
National Reference Laboratory in a number of key areas: Pesticides
in Food of Animal Origin; a range of veterinary drug residues in
foods of animal origin; and Added water in poultry.
About LGC
Standards
LGC Standards (www.lgcstandards.com) provides
products and services to improve measurement and quality control
within the laboratory, and is part of LGC, whose Research and
Technology Division acts as the UK National Metrology Institute for
Chemical and Biochemical Measurements. LGC Standards supplies over
20,000 reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference
standards, proficiency testing and training in analytical quality.
LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its
global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in
Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France,
Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, China and the UK, a joint
venture presence in India, and representatives in Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Romania, Turkey and the
US.
Notes to
editors: