IAS Food Safety Technical Advisory Council Meeting
The International Accreditation Service (IAS) in Brea, California, held a Food Safety Technical Advisory Council (TAC) meeting, Wednesday, June 24th, to discuss and identify issues pertaining to food safety in testing, inspection, product and personnel certification, and management systems certification entities.
The Food TAC is chaired by Mr. Udo Lampe (Analytica Alimentaria GmbH) and supported by representatives from government laboratories, accredited organizations, and IAS staff, including Mr. Albert Chambers (Monachus), Dr. Mustafa Gassem (Integrated Modern Scientific Supplies), Mr. Jesse Calvillo (Testing Laboratory Assessor and Technical Expert), Mr. Ravi Kanipayor (Cold Block Technologies) and Dr. Tania Martinez (Food Lawyer – FSPCA – Demos Global Group).
“Food safety is global and transversal. It englobes all aspects accreditation could cover, including Inspection, testing and sampling, personnel, product and management certification, and more than 1600 related ISO-Standards, among others,” said Udo Lampe. “The IAS Food Safety TAC unites the international and interdisciplinary expertise to deal with the most relevant and urgent topics and anticipate future challenges.”
The meeting included discussions on the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in accreditation of conformity assessment bodies, blockchain and food safety, food sampling, the proposed Rule for FDA Testing Laboratories, IAS food accreditation programs updates, and the latest IAF Food Working Group meeting outputs. The IAS Accreditation program expansions to new areas such as Accreditation of Halal Certification Bodies or BRC were also highlighted during the meeting. Innovative techniques alternative to traditional Quality Assurance Programs (PT-ILC) for Testing Laboratories, such as the use of undercover samples, were introduced to attendees. Decisions were made on the development of various technical papers and presentations (e.g. for food sampling and associated risks and challenges) and participation in future events. Special attention was given to the traction that the 2020 World Accreditation Day event that IAS hosted on June 9th received, since the theme was related to Accreditation and Food Safety. IAS Top Management Commitment to promote food safety through the IAS Accreditation Programs and participation in major events, was verified through the closing remarks by IAS President, Mr. Raj Nathan.
The IAS accreditation programs and services encompass the diverse needs required within the food industry to enable farmers, manufacturers, distributors and service providers to provide consumers with safe and quality consumable products. Testing Laboratories can be accredited to the ISO/IEC Standard 17025, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, and related standards (AOAC, USFDA-BAM, EPA, etc.). Calibration Laboratories can be accredited to the ISO/IEC Standard 17025, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, and related standards. Inspection agencies can be accredited to the ISO/IEC Standard 17020: Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection and related standards. Product certification agencies can be accredited to the ISO/IEC Standard 17065 Conformity Assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services, and related standards. IAS is also an approved Accreditation Body to offer GLOBALG.A.P accreditations. Management System (MS) Certification Bodies (CB) can be accredited to ISO/IEC 17021-1: Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems including food safety management. IAS is also an approved Accreditation Body to offer FSSC 22000 accreditations. Personnel certification bodies can be accredited to the ISO/IEC Standard 17024: General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. Third Party Certification Bodies can be accredited to the ISO/IEC 17021-1: Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems or to ISO/IEC Standard 17065: Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services, in order to audit and certify foreign (outside the US) food facilities under the FDA Third Party Certification Program. Halal Certification Bodies can be accredited to the ISO/IEC Standard 17065: Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services, and related Halal standards for certificates issued in conformity of their clients’ products and processes to International/Regional Halal standards (e.g. GSO, UAE) and Shariah law.
For more information about the IAS Food Technical Advisory Council, email Mr. Dimitrios Katsieris, IAS Food Safety TAC Secretary, dimitriosk@iasonline.org
