The certification of the mass fraction of the total content of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se and Zn in Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus): ERM®-CD200

This report describes the production of ERM®-CD200, a powdered bladderwrack material (Fucus vesiculosus) certified for the mass fraction of the total content of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se and Zn. The material was produced following ISO Guide 34:2009. Approximately 60 kg of brown algae seaweed (bladderwrack, Fucus vesiculosus) was collected in Galway (Ireland) and processed at IRMM (Belgium) to produce a certified reference material (CRM) of seaweed powder. The produced vials containing the processed seaweed were carefully capped, sealed and stored for further certification studies. Between-unit homogeneity was quantified as well as stability during dispatch and storage in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. Within-unit homogeneity was also quantified to determine the minimum sample intake. The material was characterised by an inter-laboratory comparison among laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025. Technically invalid results were removed but no outlier was eliminated on statistical grounds only. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) including uncertainty contribution related to possible heterogeneity and instability of the material as well as to the characterisation. The material is intended for the quality control and assessment of method performance. As any reference material, it can also be used for control charts or validation studies. The CRM is available in amber glass vials containing approximately 5 g of dried powder, placed in aluminized polythene sachet closed under a nitrogen atmosphere. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 200 mg. The CRM was accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Certification of Reference Materials of Cotton Seed Powder with Different Mass Fractions of the Cotton Event T304-40 - Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BF429 (ERM®-BF429a, ERM®-BF429b, ERM®-BF429c)

This report describes the processing and certification of three cotton seed powder Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) containing different mass fractions of genetically modified (GM) T304-40 cotton (ERM-BF429a, b, c). The materials were prepared and certified in 2009/2010 by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM, Geel, Belgium), according to the principles of ISO Guide 34.JRC.DG.D.2-Reference material

CERTIFICATION REPORT: The certification of the mass fractions of elements in Trout Muscle: ERM-CE101

This report describes the production of ERM-CE101, which is a matrix material certified for the mass fractions of elements. This material was produced following ISO Guide 34:2009 [ ] and is certified in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006 [2]. The material was produced from fresh fish muscle from both trout and Nile perch. Batches of the fish muscle were frozen and cryogenically milled before being blended in mixing/cutting equipment. The resulting paste was pre-cooked and filled into glass jars. The jars were capped and autoclaved to ensure preservation of the sample. Between unit-homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006 [ ]. Within-unit homogeneity was quantified to determine the minimum sample intake. The material was characterised by an interlaboratory comparison of laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025. Technically invalid results were removed but no outlier was eliminated on statistical grounds only. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in accordance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) [ ] and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity, instability and characterisation. The material is intended for quality control and assessment of method performance. As with any reference material, it can be used for establishing control charts or validation studies. The CRMs is available in glass jars containing at least 40 g of homogenised fish muscle, which were sealed with a pop-up safety lid. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 500 mg.JRC.F.6-Reference Material

Certification of Reference Materials of Soya Seed Powder with different Mass Fractions of genetically modified roundup ready® Soya, Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BF410k (ERM®-BF410ak, ERM®-BF410bk, ERM®-BF410dk, ERM®-BF410gk)

This report descirbes the processing and certification of four soya seed powder Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) containing different mass fractions of genetically modified (GM) GTS 40-30-2 (Roundup Ready) soya (ERM-BF410ak, bk, dk, gk), according to the principles of ISO Guide 34. The certification values were confirmed by event-specific real-time PCR as independent verification method. The CRMs are intended to be used for quality control or calibration of methods for the quantification of the GTS 40-30-2 soya mass fraction in food and feed. The four CRMs have been accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Material consortium.JRC.D.2-Reference material

Certification Report - The certification of different mass fractions of DAS-81419-2 in soya seed powder: Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BF437a, ERM®-BF437b, ERM®-BF437c, ERM®-BF437d and ERM®-BF437e

This report describes the production of a set of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) ERM BF437a, b, c, d and e, which are certified for their DAS-81419-2 mass fractions. This material was produced following ISO Guide 34:2009 and is certified in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. Genetically modified (GM) seeds of the soya event DAS-81419-2 and seeds from a non-GM soya variety were milled to obtain GM and non-GM seed powders with a similar particle size distribution. Mixtures of non-GM and GM soya powder were prepared gravimetrically. The certified value was obtained from the gravimetric preparations, taking into account the genetic purity with respect to the event DAS-81419-2 of the two powder materials and their water mass fractions. The certified values were confirmed by event-specific real-time PCR as an independent verification method (measurements were within the scope of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2005). Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in accordance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and include uncertainties relating to possible inhomogeneity (Section 4), instability (Section 5) and characterisation (Section 6). The materials are intended for the calibration or quality control of real-time PCR measurements to identify DAS-81419-2 soya and/or quantify its mass fraction. As with any reference material, they can also be used for establishing control charts or for carrying out validation studies. The CRMs are available in glass vials containing at least 1 g of dried soya seed powder which were sealed under atmosphere of argon. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 200 mg. The CRMs were accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortiumJRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

IMEP-35: Determination of Total Lead in Lipsticks (Interlaboratory Comparison Report)

The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), a Directorate-General of the European Commission, operates the International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP). It organises interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) in support to EU policies. This report presents the results of a proficiency test exercise (PT) focussed on the determination of total lead in lipsticks which was organised in support of the European Council Directive 79/768/EEC (1976).JRC.D.5-Standards for Food Bioscienc

Certification of Reference Materials of Maize Seed Powder containing Genetically Modified MON 810 Maize: Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BF413k (ERM®-BF413ak, ERM®-BF413ck, ERM®-BF413ek, ERM®-BF413gk)

The report describes the processing and certification of four maize seed powder Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) containing different mass fractions of genetically modified (GM) MON 810 maize (ERM-BF413ak, ck, ek, gk). The materials were processed and certified in 2007/2008 by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements IRMM, Geel, Belgium), according to the principles of ISO Guide 34. The four CRMs belonging to the ERM-BF413k series replace the earlier produced series ERM-BF413 which is exhausted. The four CRMs have been accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.JRC.D.2-Reference material

CERTIFICATION REPORT The certification of different mass fractions of DP-ØØ4114-3 in maize seed powder Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BF439a, ERM®-BF439b, ERM®-BF439c, ERM®-BF439d and ERM®-BF439e

This report describes the production of a set of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) ERM BF439a, b, c, d and e, which are certified for their 4114 maize event mass fractions. These materials were produced following ISO Guide 34:2009 and are certified in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. The materials are intended for the calibration or quality control of real-time PCR measurements to identify 4114 maize and/or quantify its mass fraction. As with any reference material, they can also be used for establishing control charts or for carrying out validation studies. The CRMs were accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Chapter 4: Towards reference materials as a tool for validating results of MBM in animal feed

In order to ensure the quality of data obtained from control laboratories measuring meat and bone meal (MBM) in feed, IRMM has developed concepts and starting materials for the possible production of reference materials in this field. The measurements to be verified are both qualitative and quantitative to their nature. Two main routes have been tested for the development of such materials, namely dry-mixing of bulk materials and direct gravimetric preparation of individual samples. The first approach consisted of addition of known amounts of meat and bone powders to a maize powder and subsequent 3-dimensional mixing. The resulting powder was then split up in different sample containers and checked for homogeneity. The second approach consisted of a production with exactly known masses of meat and bone meal powder added to a standard background matrix of maize powder prepared directly in each jar. The latter samples could only be used in single-shot analysis. The existing official method (as described in Annex VI of Commission Regulation EC 152/2009) based on sedimentation and light microscopy was used for evaluation of materials as well as NIR microscopy and PCR. This chapter describes the concept, raw materials, the two different approaches for preparation and analytical results. The results are promising in so far that the best set of results obtained for the samples prepared by direct gravimetric preparation were within 10 % of the known target with a precision of ±11 % RSD using the official EU-method. Possible routes for future material preparation and measurement developments are also discussed.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Towards Less Manipulated Reference Materials for Food and Environmental Analysis

The need for reliable and comparable analytical data in food and environmental monitoring stipulate the need for "new/alternative" types of reference materials matching more closely real world samples. Matrix certified reference materials are required in the validation of methods of analyses of real environmental samples, because matrix effects may result in bias of the analytical results. The study was designed to assess the equivalence between three different processing options for the production of food/environmental reference materials. Finding an appropriate analyte/matrix combination was the first step. A stable analyte, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) was chosen in this case, in order not to complicate the study too much by choosing analytes that could potentially degrade. A fatty fish such as mackerel was chosen as in such matrices the naturally occurring levels of PCBs are sufficiently high not to create too many difficulties for the quantification. Spiking should be avoided because this would compromise the closeness to a real sample and would complicate the homogeneity of the fresh material. The fatty matrix is also a challenge in the processing, as a homogeneous distribution of the fatty parts has to be ensured. PCBs 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 have been selected because they are frequently determined. They show a high occurrence in environmental and waste samples and represent both lower and higher chlorinated congeners. This paper summarises the protocol used to determine the homogeneity of the three material presentations. And the results from the analyses carried out to measure the PCB content of batches stored at different conditions. Evaluation of the suitability of the test materials will be performed with respect to its behaviour under different storage conditions.JRC.DG.D.2-Reference material