Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation Achieves Highest Level in International Pesticide Residue Analysis Proficiency Test (FAPAS)

Certified Excellent Grade Among 85 Global Analysis Institutions (International Proficiency Test in Residual Pesticides)

Residual Pesticide Testing

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation (President Kim Kyungho) announced on the 8th that it has been recognized for its top-level pesticide residue analysis capability in the '2021 International Proficiency Test for Pesticide Residue Analysis (FAPAS: Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme)' organized by the UK's Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA).

FAPAS is an international comparative proficiency testing program organized by the UK's Food and Environment Research Agency, which evaluates agricultural and food chemical analysis capabilities by comparing proficiency levels in pesticide residues, heavy metals, food additives, and other fields among institutions worldwide. It is internationally recognized, with government agencies, university research institutes, and private analysis organizations from around the world participating annually.

This evaluation involved 85 analytical institutions worldwide. FAPAS distributed identical samples (strawberry puree) to the 85 participating institutions, and after each institution submitted pesticide residue analysis results by October 8, 2021, the analysis capabilities of each institution were assessed. The corporation submitted analysis results for seven pesticide components.

The evaluation judges a z-Score (comparative evaluation) value within the inter-laboratory error range of '±2' as a satisfactory grade, with values closer to 0 indicating the highest grade. The corporation achieved excellent grades for all seven submitted components, with z-Score values of 0.1 for Myclobutanil and Pyraclostrobin, and 0.2 for Ethoprophos and Imidacloprid.

The corporation was first designated as a 'Safety Inspection Institution' by the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service in 2013, and through an additional designation as a 'Safety Testing Institution' in 2020, it has maintained analytical expertise and reliability in the fields of inorganic components and harmful substances. Since 2016, it has also conducted microbial and radiation testing.

Kim Seungro, Distribution Formation Team Leader, stated, “We will not be complacent with this international analysis capability evaluation result and will continue to strive to maintain a high level of analytical capability. Based on the internal and external credibility of safety inspection work, we will do our best to supply safe food to Seoul citizens.”

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