Methods of Analysis and Sampling

Methods of Analysis and Sampling The Agrochemicals Unit provides assistance and support to developing countries in their efforts to ensure the safety and quality of food and agricultural commodities, thereby safeguarding the health of consumers and facilitating international trade. The Unit’s work focuses on food and environmental contaminants such as residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs, and mycotoxins. The main areas of activity in pursuit of the objectives are: applied research and development, technology transfer, training, and support for the development of international guidelines.

Analytical methods are developed or adapted and validated for transfer to Member States for application in regulatory and research laboratories. Emphasis is placed on simple, multi-residue methods to improve cost-effectiveness and applicability, whilst meeting the performance requirements necessary for use as regulatory methods for international trade. Radiolabelled compounds, when available, provide a comparative advantage as a quality control tool during method development.

The Food and Environmental Protection Subprogramme also continues to assist the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission in the elaboration of Codex standards and guidelines related to pesticide residues and food safety. The IAEA website therefore contains abstracts and collections of validated or official analytical methods used worldwide. Links and collections or abstracts, respectively, can be accessed and downloaded from http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/fep/News-Main-page.pdf. Currently, contributions have been received from Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Republic of Korea, The Netherlands, UK and USA.