Eurofins is the first food laboratory in China accredited by DACH
April 23, 2009
Eurofins’ laboratory in Suzhou, China has been awarded ISO 17025 status by the German accreditation body DACH. It is the first laboratory to have achieved this level of accreditation in China and this is further proof that Eurofins is able to provide standardised analytical methods on a global basis wherever it offers its services. DACH is the German Accreditation Agency in Chemistry and is a signatory to European (EA) and international (ILAC) mutual recognition treaties.
The scope of the accreditation comprises pesticide screenings, melamine and heavy metal testing and microbiological analyses. Prior to the accreditation process these methods were validated with the support of Eurofins’ respected laboratories in Europe, notably the Dr. Specht and WEJ laboratories in Hamburg, Germany. They offered technical and hands-on assistance that ensured that standards in China were duplicating those in their own laboratories, which are amongst the biggest food testing laboratories in the world and whose scientists serve on many governmental and industry standardisation and technical committees such as AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists International), CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) and ISO/CASCO (International Standardisation Organisation). Dr. Specht was responsible for developing the S19 method for multi-residue testing of pesticides that is the official EU standard.
The food industry can now draw on a reliable testing facility equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to test exports from China, mostly to Europe, the USA and Japan, prior to shipment. In addition to the laboratory work Eurofins performs and organises other services to control the supply chains of its customers such as sampling, auditing and inspection services.
As announced earlier* Eurofins will continue to invest in China to extend the laboratory’s capabilities as well as continuing its programme of expanding into many other important regions of sourcing for food and feed products, where its customers most need its high quality analytical testing services and deep knowledge in local markets that makes it the world’s leading food testing company.
* Eurofins press release dated April 2nd 2009 “Eurofins formally opens its advanced food testing laboratory in China, with news of another accreditation and expanded capabilities”
For further information please contact:
Investor Relations
Phone: +32-2-769 7383
E-mail: ir@eurofins.com
Notes for the editor:
Eurofins – a global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins Scientific is a life sciences company operating internationally to provide a comprehensive range of analytical testing services to clients from a wide range of industries including the pharmaceutical, food and environmental sectors.With 8,000 staff in more than 150 laboratories across 29 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 25,000 reliable analytical methods for evaluating the authenticity, origin, safety, identity, composition and purity of biological substances and products. The Group is committed to providing its customers with high quality services, accurate results in time and, if requested, expert advice by its highly qualified staff.
The Eurofins Group is the world leader in food testing and one of the global market leaders in pharmaceuticals and environmental testing. It intends to pursue its dynamic growth strategy and expand both its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology to offer its clients unique analytical solutions and the most comprehensive range of testing methods.
As one of the most innovative and quality oriented international players in its industry, Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients’ increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the demands of regulatory authorities around the world.
The shares of Eurofins Scientific are listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris (ISIN FR0000038259) and Frankfurt (WKN 910 251) Stock Exchanges (Reuters EUFI.LN, Bloomberg ERF FP, ESF, EUFI.DE).