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European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EURL GMFF)

Proficiency tests information

Scope and participation

The Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 tasks the EURLs with “the organisation of regular proficiency tests (also called comparative testing) for National Reference Laboratories and, if necessary, for other official laboratories, with an appropriate follow-up of such proficiency tests in accordance, where available, with internationally accepted protocols and informing the Commission and the Member States of the results and follow-up to the inter-laboratory comparative testing or proficiency tests”

The main objective of this PT scheme is to assess, and improve where needed, the analytical capabilities of the participants for the identification and quantification of GMOs in food, feed and seed samples.

Participation to the PT scheme of the EURL GMFF is open to NRLs in the EU (and EFTA countries) and obligatory for those having a mandate for this type of analysis under the Official Controls Regulation. Participation is also open to appointed official laboratories in the field of food, feed and seed compliance for the presence of GMOs. Registration is announced by email and proceeds online through our ILC (Inter Laboratory Comparison) website. Participation of control laboratories from Third Countries is exceptionally granted upon prior request (JRC-EURL-GMFF-CT@ec.europa.eu), however, such participants are reminded that these PTs are specifically designed for EU laboratories, require experience in GM event-specific quantification and can be challenging.

 

Test materials and measurands

Since 2010, the EURL GMFF generally organises two PT rounds per year. Each PT involves two test items composed of a ground food or feed matrix containing one or more GMOs. The participants are requested to analyse the test items for the presence (identification) and the mass fraction (quantification) of GM events. Since 2014, the two test items in each PT round are of a different matrix and contain different GM events. One of the test item matrices (T1) is often difficult and complex (e.g. compound feed, highly processed food) and challenges the analytical capabilities of the laboratories, particularly for the extraction of DNA in a sufficient quantity and quality. The other test item (T2) is generally easier to analyse (e.g. seed flour) and mainly assesses the PCR module of the workflow.

 

General outline of the exercise

Participants are requested to perform the requested tests (see Table) using the method routinely used in their daily work. Reporting of the mean of the measurement results, the associated expanded measurement uncertainty and the coverage factor are done online through our secure ILC website. Since 2018, also a compliance statement against the applicable EU legislation is requested for the test item. Participants have to provide details about their testing in an online questionnaire.

The reported results are analysed and the performance of each laboratory is compared with the assigned value for each measurand using z (or z’) scores. Additional performance scores may be calculated and reported for indicative purposes, e.g. for an assessment of the reported measurement uncertainties. NRL laboratories who have obtained an unsatisfactory z score for any of the measurements are requested to perform a root-cause analysis and communicate the outcome to the EURL GMFF.

 

Publications

Broothaerts, W., Cordeiro, F., Corbisier, P., Robouch, P., Emons, H. (2019) Log transformation of proficiency testing data on the content of genetically modified organisms in food and feed samples: is it justified? Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 412, 1129–1136
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Broothaerts, W., Cordeiro, F., Corbisier, P., Robouch, P., Emons, H. (2020) Response to the Editor regarding: “Log transformation of proficiency testing data on the content of genetically modified organisms in food and feed samples: is it justified?” Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 412, 3949–3950
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Broothaerts, W., Cordeiro, F., Robouch, P., Emons, H. (2020) Ten years of proficiency testing reveals an improvement in the analytical performance of EU National Reference Laboratories for genetically modified food and feed. Food Control 114, 107237
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