TERMS of REFERENCE of the ASEAN FOOD REFERENCE LABORATORIES (Afrls)

TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE ASEAN FOOD REFERENCE LABORATORIES (AFRLs)

1. Objective:

The ASEAN Food Reference Laboratories (AFRLs) shall be established: 1.1 as a means of networking among ASEAN Member States (AMS) to support technical issues related to food and food-related testing in ASEAN; 1.2 to provide technical support to the National Food Reference Laboratories (NFRLs); 1.3 as a means for provision of technical assistance and transfer of knowledge to other food and food-related laboratories in ASEAN; 1.4 for the networking with other international and regional reference laboratories for the purpose of exchanging technical information and promoting collaboration.

2. Roles and functions:

The AFRLs shall:

2.1 As a means of networking among AMSs, support technical issues related to food and food-related testing in ASEAN in the areas of their expertise. 2.1.1 Recommend new analytical test methods to be used by NFRLs. 2.1.2 Provide/Coordinate proficiency testing (PT) or interlaboratory comparisons in the ASEAN region and provide pertinent information on proficiency testing or inter laboratory comparisons organised by other relevant organizations. 2.1.3 Conduct training in the specific areas of expertise, if necessary. 2.1.4 Provide information on the availability of food and food-related testing laboratories in the area of expertise in ASEAN upon request. 2.1.5 Become resource of information for certified reference materials (CRMs) or reference materials (RMs). 2.1.6 Upon request, serve as reference laboratories in cases where there are dispute in analytical test result.

2.2 To provide technical support to the NFRLs and other laboratories in ASEAN.

2.2.1 Provide training on the methods of analysis as well as on quality assurance in food analysis laboratories; 2.2.2 Establish and maintain a pool of ASEAN experts related to food and food testing to advise AMS; 2.2.3 For the networking with other international and regional reference laboratories for the purpose of exchanging technical information and promoting collaboration.

3. Technical Competence of ASEAN Food Reference Laboratories (AFRLs) 3.1 The AFRLs shall be accredited by internationally recognized accreditation bodies based on ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirement for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. 3.2 The AFRLs shall participate and demonstrate competence in the relevant international proficiency testing for the respective designated area of expertise. 3.3 The AFRLs shall have adequate facilities to conduct training, including competent personnel with adequate training experience in the analytical techniques applied in their area of competence. 3.4 The AFRLs shall provide/coordinate PT programme according to ISO/IEC 17043, ISO/TS 22117 or interlaboratory comparison as appropriate. 3.5 The AFRLs shall be the resource center for provision of information for certified reference materials (CRMs) or reference materials (RMs).

4. Procedures for Establishment of AFRLs

4.1 Any AMS may propose the establishment of an AFRL from any suitable government laboratory in their respective country to the PFPWG in line with the procedure for the establishment of AFRL.

5. National Food Reference Laboratories [NFRLs]

5.1 Member States may appoint one or more government laboratory(s) related to food and food testing as NFRLs to be linked with the AFRLs in their area of competence; 5.2 The NFRLs shall demonstrate their competence preferably through accreditation by the recognised accreditation bodies. 5.3 The NFRLs shall coordinate the activities of official laboratories responsible for the analysis of samples at the national level; such as participation in training and PT. 5.4 Where appropriate, the NFRLs shall organise comparative tests between the designated laboratories and ensure an appropriate follow-up of such comparative testing. 5.5 The NFRLs shall establish and maintain a pool of experts related to food and food testing and submit it to the AFRLs to be incorporated into the panel of ASEAN experts.