Microbial Hazards). The workshop seeks to contribute to better food safety control systems in Africa through: (1) discussing mechanisms to narrow gaps among the different focus areas such as chemical and microbiology food analysis and control programmes; analytical regulatory laboratories and metrology institutes; (2) Short term training of laboratory analysts; (3) Strengthening networking among food safety stakeholders.

The specific objectives will include (but not limited to): find mechanisms to improve regional measurement and standards infrastructure, contributing to food safety in the region; expand further, a regional food safety network beyond laboratories, by attracting other experts in the areas of mycotoxins, veterinary drug and pesticide residues and microbiological food safety, from non-profit organizations, technical institutions, government regulators, commercial testing and research institutions, professional associations, as well the private sector; strengthen capacity development for food safety testing and control in Africa with participants gaining insight into: New developments in mycotoxin (and related contaminant) analysis and measurement standards and regulations; How to address skill gaps relating to requirements needed to obtain/maintain ISO 17025 accreditation as well as ISO 22000 food safety management systems; The importance of metrological traceability, how to determine if calibration standards are metrologically traceable; New developments in analysis of bound contaminants (such as but not limited to masked mycotoxins) and rapid testing techniques and associated kits; Food traceability and comparative advantage in trade. This event will bring together interest groups (partly to expand networking and enhance capacity building) from: Metrology laboratories/institutions; Food testing laboratories (analysts and managers); Research/academia; Industry (e.g. instrument vendors and food manufacturers/distributors etc); Regional and International and Non-Governmental Organizations; Professional associations; and others e.g. Interested general public and civil society.

frame of a competitive process among Belgian institutions. Funding is provided by the Government of Belgium through Window 3 of the CGIAR Fund allocated to the Lead Center of PIM, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).  This opportunity will enhance partnership between IFPRI and Belgian knowledge institutions. Within Flagship 3 or Flagship 5 of PIM and take place in a country that is both a Belgian partner country and a country of PIM focus (list of eligible countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda). The annual budget will be EUR 294,000 for four years starting in 2017, with two thirds going to the Belgian institution and one third to CGIAR. Funds need to be expended before December 31, 2020.

CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM). International Food Policy Research Institute, a member of the CGIAR Consortium. www.pim.cgiar.org | www.ifpri.org | www.cgiar.org. 1201 Eye Street N.W., Washington DC 20005 |Tel: +1.202.862.4698

Email: K.Brooks@cgiar.org  | Skype: karen.mcconnellbrooks 

This included hands-on, lectures and discussions on radio receptor assays and LC-MS/MS. Other screening techniques were also covered. Resource persons from Belgium and Isolate, Morocco along with local ONSSA laboratory staff contributed to the programme. The group discussed mechanisms to enhance networking and food safety in Africa.

attended the training course. These were joined by resource persons from Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Bari, Italy supported by local resource persons. The training course was held from 24 to 28 of July, 2017 at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), Chilanga as well as Hotel Arcades, Lusaka. Practical demonstration of ‘on-site’ sampling of maize was carried out at the Food Reserve Agency, Lusaka. The collected maize samples were analyzed in the laboratory practical sessions. Lectures, demonstrations and discussions included: Toxigenic fungi and relevant mycotoxins in the food/feed chain; Prevention and decontamination strategies; Sampling and sample preparation for mycotoxin analysis; Performance characteristics and validation of quantitative analytical methods for mycotoxins; Data analysis and interpretation of results. A training video on methods of sampling for the official control of levels of mycotoxins produced from the MycoRed project “Novel integrated strategies for worldwide mycotoxin reduction in food and feed chains” (EU, 7FP) was shown. Practical demonstrations relevant to milling and homogenization of maize samples before mycotoxin analysis were also conducted.

Lectures and laboratory training will be provided on routinely used and new screening tools for rapid, robust and user-friendly analysis of mycotoxins, including validation aspects. Practical training in the laboratory will cover most of the course and trainees will be assisted individually in the laboratory by ISPA-CNR staff expert in instrumental and immunochemical analysis of mycotoxins. The Training course website is  http://rapidmethods.mycokey.eu  and the event has been disseminate also through the EU website (http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=6EC57A16-9DFE-3418-908C20CF8B6ECD33).

Such collaboration and spirit of brotherhood is one of the ways capacity building can be enhanced on the African continent and food safety control systems strengthened.  More is encouraged. Dr Serge SAMANDOULOUGOU works for the Nutritionniste et toxicologue alimentaire CNRST/IRSAT/DTA  in Burkina Faso. He used the training opportunity to also analyse a number of food samples since the country does not have the relevant confirmatory analytical tool.

determination of pesticides in oranges, to our valued residue testing community, for FREE. Interested participants will only be required to pay for delivery of the materials to their laboratories. To allow all laboratories to take full advantage of this opportunity, the registration for the PT will be extended to 30 June 2017 and the first round will commence with  distribution on the 30th of July. To all laboratories that have already submitted registration forms, you registration has been captured and pricing will be amended according to the new protocol. However if you would like to register for additional rounds please feel free to amend the original registration and return it to Dr. Laura Quinn lquinn@nmisa.org by the registration closing date of 30 June 2017. NMISA will continue striving towards promoting interlaboratory comparisons as we understand the value it provides for our Country and the region. NMISA pesticide in fruit PT protocol 2017_2018; 

NMISA Customer Application – 2017

 :21 April 2017. Minimum education requirement: Masters in Animal Science/Biochemistry/Chemistry/Feed Science.Other essential requirements: The candidate must be employed and responsible for the laboratory operation and analyses. Technology requirements: The candidate must have access to: A computer that is less than 4 years old; Reliable high-speed Internet connection (cable/DSL or better); Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Excel or equivalent; Common plug-ins (e.g., Adobe Reader, Flash Player, virus protection, etc.); microphone and speakers. Cost: The course (U$750) covers the cost of instruction, mailing, and materials. Under a special arrangement, candidates selected to participate will be sponsored by FAO and TAMU, and no participation fee will be charged from the candidate or the organization to which s/he belongs. However, in the event of dropping out of the candidate from the course, the candidate or the organization to which the candidate belongs will have to pay an amount of US$ 500.

Procedure for submission of the application: Please submit a one-page motivation letter giving reasons for undertaking this course and how the knowledge gained will be used. Include the following information in your letter: First name; Last name; Phone number; Email address. The motivation letter should be accompanied by a scanned copy of a time and resource commitment letter from your Director/Head of the organization. The course will be administered by Dr. Tim Herrman, Professor, State Chemist and Director Office of the Texas, TAMU, USA.

Spaces in the course are limited. The application can be submitted electronically, at your earliest convenience, but not later than 21 April 2017 to: Harinder.makkar@fao.org

Successful candidates will be informed of their selection by 28 April 2017. Selection will be based on the requirements listed above, the motivation letter from the candidate, and the letter from the Director/Head of the institution in which the candidate is employed. Preference will be given to laboratories that have participated in Proficiency (Ring) tests coordinated by FAO.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Quality systems and method development used within a laboratory; ensuring the integrity of procedures used in lab processes, chain of custody, information management, and international laboratory standards; regulatory requirements for laboratory operation; bio‐security precautions; and laboratory management. Course will be in English and its schedule is included below. This course will address the following topics: Ensuring Validity and Reliability; Laboratory Procedures; Quality Assurance: Procedures, Tools & Methods; Laboratory Management. Time Commitment: About 8 hours per week

Course Goals: After completing this course, candidates will possess a practical knowledge of the standard laboratory practices and quality systems required to oversee a scientific laboratory’s quality management program. This course is intended to equip the candidate with the breadth of knowledge needed to obtain laboratory data and results that are reliable, interpretable, repeatable, and defensible. Candidates will possess the capability to participate on a laboratory management team including budgeting and forming a technology strategy.

Course Tools: All course materials and activities will be presented using the eCampus Learning Management System. You access eCampus by logging into http://ecampus.tamu.edu

Class Readings: Most readings will be available in eCampus in .pdf format. Other readings will be available online, with a hyperlink provided in eCampus.

Course Presentations

Weekly materials will be presented using a variety of formats, including online slide presentations, audio, and videos.

Homework/Discussions: Course discussions and homework will be used to assess your understanding of concepts throughout the course and address the following topics: Statistical Process Control; Developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP); Corrective/Preventative Actions; Method Validation

Grading: Your grades will be determined as follows: Discussions (20% of total grade); Homework (80% of total grade); Grading Policy: All class assignments must be completed on the dates set by the instructor on the course website unless prior approval has been granted by the instructor.

Attendance, Homework and Make‐up Exam Policy: Due to the participatory nature of this Web‐based class, regular log‐in to the course Web site is expected. A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course.

assurance for microbiology testing laboratories; Analysis of food samples for possible presence of microbial hazards and related antimicrobials (residues) in the same matrix; Discussions on relationship between antimicrobial resistance and the use of antimicrobials in animal production.

Nigeria, NAFDAC’s laboratory, an important AFoSaN member helped verify that the suspected rice was not plastic after all, thus reassuring consumers and the general public. Such experience should help others members of the network to address similar concerns in their respective countries should need ever arises. Details of a press briefing by Government and food safety authorities to address this challenge can be found under the link: https://www.thecable.ng/no-plastic-rice-in-nigeria-say-adewole-nafdac.

analytical tools used including mass spectrometry with optimum use of suitable stable isotopes. The participants came from 14 countries namely: Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay, Mongolia, Turkey, Uganda and Uruguay.

training EISMV. The two institutions will continue to interact more closely from now on. The knowledge passed on includes some experience LACOMEV also gained from a recent scientific visit to BNVL, Botswana. Further exchange of staff to benchmark analytical methods for better food safety among these personnel is expected.

just completed the training on another scientist from Mauritania. The experience gained by Senegal from Botswana and a more holistic appreciation of food safety including inspection (from the farm, though the abattoir to the lab)

(thecitizen.co.tz) of July 19 2016, the lovely Professor passed away aboard a plane from Arusha to Dar Es Salaam. May his soul rest in eternal peace. He is pictured along with another Senior person who honored the same event in Uganda but passed on late 2015, the former Ugandan Minister of State for Industry, Hon. James Mutende (right in the picture – RIP). Our senior AFoSaN colleague, Director, Department of Radioisotopes; Central Veterinary Research Laboratory Center Dr. Yousef El Mansoury (RIP) looking on in the middle of the picture will remember the 2 better.

and routine residue monitoring as well as standards setting. This and the work NMISA is scheduled to do for the network members is highly encouraged

work including use of radio receptor assay and related complementary techniques on chemical food contaminants (in Uganda) and analysis of foods for substances characterised as veterinary drugs and pesticides (Benin).

regular though basic troubleshooting and maintenance. Several instrument companies including Chemetrix/Agilent, Microsep/Waters, Perkin Elmer, Shimadzu, Leco among others, provided training and made significant contributions. This knowledge is helping several laboratories in Africa as well as Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Africa, and Zimbabwe among others. Below is a scientist from Botswana National veterinary Lab visiting Uganda to share experience on national residue monitoring