Projet de recherche BL/52/SA13 (Action de recherche BL)
Implementing the worldwide free trade agreement increased the demand for official controls, quality assurance and credible testing laboratories. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of results, laboratories must implement an appropriate program to address their needs in quality assurance verification and continuous performance monitoring. They should therefore establish the traceability of their methods and the capability of the analysts involved. According to ISO/IEC 17025:2005, reference materials (RMs) and control charting can be used to monitor the quality of measurements performed and immediately investigate any problems as soon as they occur. Interestingly, participation in proficiency testing (PT) programs is another tool to evaluate the laboratory’s performance. Thus, accreditation boards require testing laboratories to participate in PT schemes to obtain and sustain ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation and to use RMs to provide internationally comparable test results. However, PT and RMs are only supplied by few expert laboratories from developed countries in the USA, Australia and Europe. Developing countries must be also familiar with American and European standards but also import requirements. For this purpose, metrological tools developed for member states in the EU should also be available to laboratories from third countries with specific training activities organized on site for their technicians. Such a strong EU-oriented integration of the legislation for global trade requires a high level of competence and expertise of efficient and adequate official controls.
The perpetual co-occurrence of mycotoxins contaminating food and feed crops represents a significant food safety concern worldwide, especially in Africa. Despite local and international research efforts, Africa and other developing countries are plagued by mycotoxigenic fungi and their related mycotoxins due to the frequent, complex and inconsistent occurrence resulting from variable crop production and storage conditions. Therefore, multi-analyte methods using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) determination of mycotoxins in food and feed continue to be essential in controlling and maintaining safety compliance with regulatory limits and in investigating some emerging contaminants. Commercially available RMs are often dedicated to the regulated mycotoxins, while less known, or emerging mycotoxins are gaining interest. In this respect, the development of embedded matrix reference materials is required as important tool towards a better multi-mycotoxin analysis in food and feed. The major aim of this proposal is to bring together experts from both South Africa and Belgium to conduct research on fungi and related mycotoxins determination. The different partners will complementarily focus on the following specific objectives:
- Development and validation of analytical methods for determination of mycotoxins food/feeds;
- Characterization and profiling of mycotoxigenic fungi from the BCCM/IHEM (Sciensano) and University of Johannesburg collections on food/feed substrates;
- Development and characterization of traceable matrix reference materials for mycotoxins (various candidate materials with relevant incurred mycotoxins contents, sufficient homogeneity and stability);
- Organization of international intra-laboratory comparisons;
- Performing mini-surveys of food to create or extend the mycotoxins databank intended for consumer’s risk assessment;
- Strengthening metrological facilities (availability of reference materials, networking and capacity building towards ring testing).
