Project: Support for a European Metrology Network on Food Safety

Acronym Food-MetNet (Reference Number: 20NET02)
Duration 01/06/2021 - 31/05/2024
Project Topic Safe food is a prerequisite for good human health however currently almost one in ten people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated food. National food safety authorities need to be able to manage food safety risks along the entire food chain. The Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 was put in place to ensure that food and feed law stipulates the need for validated analytical methods. However, whilst food safety method development and proficiency testing are well established by European Union Reference Laboratories and National Reference Laboratories, validation of the measurements involved, certified reference materials and internationally recognised calibration and measurement capabilities are currently lacking. This erodes trust in the accuracy of the measurements. This project aims to accelerate the set-up of a European Metrology Network (EMN) on Food Safety; involving on-going dialogue between the metrology community, reference laboratories and regulatory bodies. This dialogue will then be used to (i) identify stakeholders’ needs, (ii) develop a sustainable knowledge-sharing programme and web-based platform for stakeholders and (iii) develop roadmaps and a strategic research agenda. Improved access to more reliable and accurate food safety measurements will allow reference laboratories to more confidently and effectively compare their measurement results and provide accreditation. This is particularly important where national food safety authorities need to assess potential new contaminants, novel food ingredients and newly emerging food risks, and new measurements methods may be required as well as input into new documentary standards.
Website visit project website
Network EMPIR
Call EMPIR Call 2020

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
1 Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica Coordinator Italy
2 Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung Partner Germany
3 Independent Authority for Public Revenue Partner Greece
4 Institut Jožef Stefan Partner Slovenia
5 LGC Limited Partner United Kingdom
6 Nacionalni Institut za Biologijo Partner Slovenia
7 Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu Partner Türkiye
8 Eidgenössisches Institut für Metrologie METAS Observer Switzerland
9 Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Observer Germany