Food Standards Agency - National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for FS616028 Milk and Milk Products.

Descriptions

Food Standards Agency - FS616028 Milk and Milk Products - The Provision of Services for The National Reference Laboratories in the Uk between 1.4.2014 And 31.3.2018 The Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department governed by a Board appointed to act in the public interest, with the task of protecting consumers in relation to food. It is a UK-wide body with offices in London, Aberdeen, Cardiff, Belfast and York. The UK has a legal obligation (through adopting the Official Food and Feed Controls Regulations 2009) to appoint NRLs to aid the work of the EURLs (formerly called CRLs). The work of the National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) is driven by the programme of the respective EU Reference Laboratories (EURLs). It is a statutory requirement to have NRLs for the corresponding EURL work areas. Core functions and duties of the appointed NRLS are cited in Article 33 of the EC Regulation 882/2004. The NRL service is an on-going project and this proposal is for another 4/5 year contract for the Milk and Milk Products NRL tender. The NRL service is aligned to the FSA Strategic Plan by ensuring that enforcement is effective, consistent, risk-based and proportionate and is focused on improving public health. The Strategic Priority of NRLs is to strengthen the delivery of Official Controls by ensuring that Official Control Laboratories across the EU are working in a harmonised manner. The project is considered cross-cutting work as it requires input on analytical method development, scientific knowledge and policy aspects of the work of the NRLs. Therefore the project is considered Cross Cutting/Strategic Work – Horizon Scanning in the Agency's research programme.