Interlaboratory comparisons

The EURL-FCM organises Interlaboratory Comparisons (ILC) towards either proficiency testing and/or validation studies. ILCs are open to National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and to their local official control laboratories upon their request. Some comparisons can be run as proficiency tests to evaluate laboratory performance and validation studies are organised to validate analytical methods. Some materials used for testing can remain available for further training purposes and can be provided upon request.

In this section:

• Tenax as simulant for dry food (specific migration from plastics)
• Formaldehyde in acidic extract solution
• Photoinitiators in extracts and in paper and board
• Melamine in acidic extract solution
• Validation of the method for the quantification of bisphenol A in 50% aqueous ethanol as a food simulant for milk
• Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in oil
• Plasticisers in gasket and oil

2011

Tenax as simulant for dry food (specific migration from plastics)

This work focuses on the validation of methods or at least recommendation on precision data and interlaboratory performance for the use of Tenax as a dry simulant for specific migration testing. The exercise anticipates the use of Tenax as simulant for dry foods for the measurement of specific migration from plastics in the new plastic Regulation . The aim of this exercise will be to test the specific migration of known substances from a plastic test material into Tenax simulant, as well as the extraction of a fortified Tenax.

Report: upcoming

Formaldehyde in acidic extract solution

In the context of the regulation of import conditions from melamine-based kitchenware (melaware) from China and Hong Kong, the exercise aims at proficiency testing. Migration solutions of formaldehyde in 3% acetic acid from melaware as food simulant were distributed. Some of the samples are additionally fortified with melamine.

• Beldì G., Jakubowska N., Derda M., Simoneau C. (2012) Report of the interlaboratory comparison organised by the European Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Material ILC01 2011 - Formaldehyde in food contact migration solution, Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, JRC Scientific and Technical Report, EUR 25226 EN

2010

Photoinitiators in extracts and in paper and board

This proficiency test aimed to respond to the crisis in 2009 where benzophenone and the non-authorised 4-methylbenzophenone were found in cereals in Belgium. Two reference solutions of five photoinitators (BP, 4-MBP, 4-HBP, PBZ, ITX) at two concentration levels, ten 5x5 cm2 pieces of board (for BP), ten 10x5 pieces of board (for 4-MBP) and 5 reference pure calibrants have been distributed.

• Bratinova S., Koivikko R., Simoneau C. (2010) Report of an interlaboratory comparison organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials; ILC01 2010 - Photoinitiators in solvent and in paperboard. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, JRC Scientific and Technical Report, EUR  24575 EN

Melamine in acidic extract solution

This proficiency test anticipated on the lowering of the specific migration limit of melamine from 30 mg/kg food to 2.5 mg/kg food by Codex Alimentarius. Consequently the existing CEN Technical Specification currently in place for food contact materials would not be suitable for the quantification of melamine at this level. This exercise requested both the concentrations and the uncertainty in order to compare the estimation of uncertainty budgets by NRLs. Four real migration solutions from kitchen utensils in 3% acetic acid as food simulant were distributed. Some of the samples were fortified additionally with melamine.

Report: upcoming

2009

Validation of the method for the quantification of bisphenol A in 50% aqueous ethanol as a food simulant for milk

The choice for the validation of the method for bisphenol A analysis rose from the implementation of a new milk simulant 50% ethanol (EtOH) in Directive 2007/19/EC. The first specific goal of the exercise on BPA was to validate an extension of the scope of EN13130 Part 13 to include this new food simulant in the range around the legislative specific migration limit of 0.6 mg/kg. In addition it was agreed that a second validation range would also be studied to allow validation data to be generated for exposure purposes. Bisphenol A was chosen as target substance because of its importance as monomer in polycarbonate materials that are historically used as baby bottles and are therefore in contact with milk-type products.

• Bratinova S., Valzacchi S., Multari M., Spalla S., Simoneau C. (2010) Report of the interlaboratory comparison organised by the EU Reference for Laboratory Food Contact Material - ILC02 2009- Bisphenol A in 50% aqueous ethanol (milk simulant): Laboratory performance and precision criteria of a harmonised method, Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, JRC Scientific and Technical Report, EUR 24550 EN

Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in oil

The validation of the method for DIDP in oil is a follow-up of the large proficiency test on plasticisers in gaskets and oil in 2008. The performance for the isomeric mixtures diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and DIDP was slightly lower across all NRLs. DIDP was chosen as the model target to conduct the exercise. The choice also corresponds to a support to the implementation to Directive 2007/19/EC which targets plasticisers from plastics.

• Bratinova S., Multari M., Spalla S., Simoneau C. (2010) Report of an interlaboratory comparison organised by the EU Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials - ILC01 2009 - DIDP in Oil Laboratory performance and precision criteria of a harmonised method, Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, JRC Scientific and Technical Report, 24387 EN

2008

Plasticisers in gasket and oil

This was a proficiency test concerning ESBO, phthalates and other plasticisers in two gaskets and two oils.

• Bratinova S., Valzacchi S., Beldi G., Morkunas V., Contini C., Hannaert P., Simoneau C. (2009) Report of the interlaboratory comparison organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory Food Contact Material: Plasticisers in Gaskets and Oil. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, JRC Scientific and Technical Report, EUR 23972 EN