Policy paper

Report on food authenticity testing and method standardisation

An independent report, by the Authenticity Methods Working Group, addressing method standardisation in food authenticity testing.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 4 March 2015

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Documents

Defra’s independent Authenticity Methods Working Group (AMWG) response to Elliott review on ‘integrity and assurance of food supply networks’ – recommendation 4

PDF, 949 KB, 84 pages

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Details

This independent expert report addresses one of the commitments resulting from the government response to the Elliott Review on better method standardisation for food authenticity testing.

It is in response to Recommendation 4 in the Elliott Review on ‘Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks’ which focussed on laboratory services and method standardisation for carrying out food authenticity testing.

The report recognises that there is already a robust food authenticity testing framework in place but makes recommendations for improvements.

It provides practical guidance for enforcers and industry on how to ensure testing for food authenticity is reliable and consistent between laboratories, as well as on how to ensure the sampling and testing methods used are the right ones for the particular food.

It is part of government’s commitment to a strategic approach to ensuring the country has a resilient network of food analytical laboratories capable of testing consistently for food authenticity using reliable methods so that consumers can have confidence in the food they buy.

Defra’s independent Expert Authenticity Methods Working Group advises on appropriate methods for authenticity testing in the UK.

Published 4 March 2015