Laboratory News & BioScience May 2017

NEW ZEALAND LABORATORY NEWS | NEW ZEALAND BIOSCIENCE
IANZ accreditation crucial to export market
By Dr Llew Richards, chief executive of
International Accreditation New Zealand
Fundamental to New Zealand’s
exporting success is our ability to
produce some of the world’s most
sought-after products, such as
dairy and meat, to an exceptionally
high standard.
As more than 95 percent of our agricultural
produce is now exported, New
Zealand has grown to be one the most
efficient farming economies globally. We are
well-respected for our pastoral farming expertise,
food production systems, research
and investment in education, animal health,
farm technology and agricultural science.
However, in order for New Zealand to
remain a leading worldwide seller of quality
agricultural produce, exports must have
a Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) export
assurance certificate to make sure the food
being sold meets the destination countries’
standards, commonly known as overseas
market access requirements (OMARs). The export
assurance certificate/OMARs essentially
act as a passport, helping good food (that’s
passed all the necessary tests) get through
importing country borders, aiding access into
overseas markets for New Zealand exporters.
This is where we, at IANZ, come in. The MPI
have instituted a Recognised Laboratory Programme
(RLP) that requires all RLP laboratories
to be accredited by IANZ for the full range
of tests that have been stipulated by overseas
food regulators (such as those in the United
States, who have a specific testing protocol).
The last thing overseas markets want is contaminated
beef or dairy to enter their food
supply, which is why accreditation is so important.
When a product, such as dairy, is being
exported to 152 countries with different
We exist to ensure these food testing laboratories,
as well as many other testing and calibration
laboratories, inspection bodies and
radiology services, are technically competent
to do the work they do. Striving to protect
the health and wealth of New Zealand, as
well as consumers overseas, helps guard the
international reputation of the fantastic food
products our country produces and provides
to the world.
Being compliant with the standards does not guarantee a
because what is tested relates to the materials used, metho
length and thickness of the glove, etc. In the table below you
mance for three of our synthetic gloves based on EN16523-1:2
all comply with the same standards, but as you will notice th
same level of performance.
regulations between them, IANZ accreditation
of the testing laboratories provides THE assurance
that the specific regulatory require-
THICKER AND LONGER THE GLOVE, THE BETT
Chemical name CAS n° Concentration
ments for those countries are being met.
SHIELD
NEO N
An issue often encountered by labora-
Thickness (Palm) 0
tories testing agricultural produce, and the
Sodium acetate Sat. solution 127-09-3 100% 4
exporters themselves, is the fact OMARS are
Acetic Acid 64-19-7 100%
continually changing, with several OMARs
issued every year. At IANZ, we are often Hydrochloric carrying
Acid 7647-01-0 37% 4
out extension assessments for labora-
Formic Acid
tories needing to carry out testing in Acrylamide accordance
64-18-6
79-06-1
98-100%
40%
1
4
with these new methods. Secondary isoarmyl alcohol 98% 598-75-4 100% 4
IANZ accreditation also facilitates efficiency
in business – stopping the need for dupli-
Ethidium Bromide 1239-45 5% 4
Chloroform 67-66-3 99,80%
cate testing. For example, where regulators in
Dimethyl Formamide (DMF) 68-12-2 99%
other countries recognise the New Zealand
process, the product can go straight Dimethyl on the Sulfoxide (DMSO) 67-68-5 99% 1
market rather than being tested again. Ethanol Dr Llew Richards
64-17-5 100% 1
Formaldehyde 50-0-07 37% 4
Formamide 75-12-7 100% 1
Isobutanol 78-83-1 100% 4
Isopropanol 67-63-0 100% 4
Methanol 67-56-1 99,90%
Phenol 108-95-2 50% 1
Sodium Hydroxide 1310-73-2 50% 4
Thris (hydroxymethyl)
aminomethane Sat. solution
ISSUE 118 | MAY 2017
77-86-1 100% 4
DISCLAIMER: The data provided was based on gloves tested under laborato
information is for guidance only and may not reflect the user’s application. A
assess the suitability of gloves for a specific application.
+
twinSHIELD
twinSHIELD techn
• Double-layered = reduced
• Stronger = better protecti
• 2 colours: Red, Orange or
ding to the risk and a soft
EN16523-1: 2015 (s
• Breakthrough occurs whe
• The test temperature is 2
• Test results must be with
samples tested. The lowe
PPE CAT. III
AQL
0,65
0120
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