Gyeongju Agricultural Technology Center Receives UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs 'FAPAS' Certification... Recognized for International Analytical Capability

Starting This Year, Analysis of 320 Types of Residual Pesticides Begins

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-ho] Gyeongju City Agricultural Technology Center has received international certification as an excellent institution for agricultural food nutrition analysis.

Gyeongju City announced on the 1st that the Agricultural Product Safety Analysis Laboratory under the Gyeongju City Agricultural Technology Center participated in the UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) 'FAPAS' (Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme) and was certified for its pesticide residue analysis technology.

The FAPAS program is a highly recognized international certification program involving government and private food analysis institutions worldwide.

A total of 62 analysis institutions, including government agencies and accredited testing organizations from around the world, participated in this evaluation. The Gyeongju City Agricultural Technology Center participated in the pesticide residue analysis field and all eight pesticide components submitted as analysis results were within the standard score ±2.0, demonstrating excellence in analytical capability.

The Agricultural Product Safety Analysis Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility established within the Agricultural Technology Center over two years since 2019 with a project budget of 1.2 billion KRW, featuring a 118㎡ analysis room, three pesticide residue testing devices, and more than 30 other pieces of equipment.

In particular, starting this year, it plans to enhance its reputation as an excellent analysis institution by analyzing 320 types of pesticide residues.

Gwon Yeon-nam, director of the Gyeongju City Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "We aim to instill the perception among consumers that Gyeongju agricultural products are safe and trustworthy food, while guiding farmers to produce safe agricultural products through pesticide residue analysis."

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