In the Food Contact Materials (FCM) field, safety and compliance are critical challenges. The evolution of scientific evidence often necessitates the re-evaluation of materials due to alerts on contaminants and regulatory updates.

One of the main obstacles is the lack of standardized and well-defined testing methods. The rapid emergence of FCM alerts makes it difficult for standardization bodies alone to manage the large number of contaminants.

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Collaborative Testing for Analytical Method Validation

An effective approach to addressing these challenges is the validation of analytical methods through collaborative testing, which helps define measurement uncertainty and ensure reliable results.

Food Contact Services offers a system that enables anonymous participation in testing circuits, leveraging synergies with a network of professionals from:

✅ Universities✅ Accredited laboratories✅ National accreditation and regulatory bodies✅ Public and private companies

These collaborations enable the development of tests where industry and research institutions work together to validate practical solutions based on statistical evidence.

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Advantages of Collaborative Testing

🔹 Reliability & Reproducibility: Analytical results must be precise and reproducible to ensure material safety.

🔹 Benchmarking & Quality: Laboratories can compare their performance with peers to assess quality.

🔹 Guaranteed Anonymity: A ISO 27001-compliant encrypted system ensures fully anonymous participation.

🔹 Accreditation & Compliance: Upon completion, each laboratory receives a report compliant with ISO 17043 and ISO 13528, supporting test method accreditation.

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How Do Collaborative Tests Work?

🔸 Homogeneous Sample Distribution: A significant number of laboratories receive identical samples to ensure uniform test conditions.

🔸 Analysis Using the Same Measurement Methods: All laboratories perform tests according to agreed methodologies.

🔸 Centralized Statistical Evaluation: Results are analyzed and compared to assess precision and reliability.

🔸 Final Report: Each laboratory receives a detailed report, while the sponsoring companies obtain a summary with statistical evidence.

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Join the Food Contact Services Network

For years, our team has been sharing technical and analytical challenges, knowledge, and solutions, creating an informal network of experts in the field. Food Contact Services actively participates in technical working groups in Italy and across Europe and is part of the Petcore-KÖR NIAS Testing Platform.

If you are interested in collaborating as a sponsor or laboratory, contact us to learn more about participation opportunities.

📌 Current Ready-to-Launch Testing Protocols:

✔ Styrene in food✔ NIAS from FCM using HS GC MS, GC MS, LC Q TOF/ORBITRAP✔ PFAS from FCM with a TARGET-UNTARGET approach