SCOPE
Official control and monitoring of animal origin food concerning the presence of the veterinary drug residues, with a view to contributing in the comprehensive evaluation for the food safety by the SGL. Final goal is the protection of public health as well as the enhancement of competitiveness of the domestic products thus promoting the fair trade and the good production practices. The scope of control covers foodstuffs of animal origin such as meat, milk, honey and fish as well as biological fluids such as urine and blood.
ACTIVITIES
(a) Monitoring and surveillance program
The laboratory, in collaboration with the Competent Authority, the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment designs and implements a National Monitoring and Surveillance Program. The control covers a wide range of drugs including hormonal and thyreostatic substances, β-Αgonists, Zeranols, Nitrofurans, Nitroimidazoles, Chloramphenicol, Antiobiotics (Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides, b-Lactams, Aminoglucosides and Quinolones), Anthelmintics, Tranquillizers, Gestagens, Non Steroids Anti Inflammatory Drugs, Corticosteroids and Coccidiostatics.
(b) Functions as National Reference Laboratory (NRL)
The laboratory is the NRL for veterinary drug residues as required by the Regulation 717/2011. In the context of this role:
- Collaborates with the European Reference Laboratories (EURL) in their area of competence.
- Ensures the dissemination to the competent authority of information that the European Reference Laboratories supplies (882/2004/EC).
- Provides scientific and technical assistance to the competent authority regarding the implementation of the coordinated control plans.
- Participates in the Proficiency tests and the basic and advance training programs organized by the EURLs.
(c) The Senior Chemist of the Section participates as a member of the Veterinary Pharmaceutical Council for the implementation of “The Veterinary Medicinal Products (Control of Quality, Registration, Circulation Supply, Administration and Use) Laws 2006”.
RESEARCH
(a) Programs designed to investigate emerging local problems based on information from the EU Rapid Alert System, RASSF.
(b) Participates in programs funded by several bodies and also postgraduate projects which were elaborated with the cooperation of Universities in Cyprus and Universities abroad. In this context the following programs were implemented:
i. Determination of Nitrofurans in animal tissues, in collaboration with the Analytical Chemistry department of University of Athens, funded by the Research Promotion Foundation (RPF).
ii. Research Program for the determination of Tetracycline Residues in honey funded by the Ministry of Health.
iii. Development and validation of the method for the determination of Carbadox and Olaquidox metabolites in porcine meat by LC-MS/MS, in the framework of postgraduate thesis which was elaborated with the cooperation of the Huddersfield University in United Kingdom.
iv. Development and validation of a multi-residue method for the determination of NSAIDs in animal products by LC-MS/MS, in the framework of postgraduate thesis which was elaborated with the cooperation of the Analytical Chemistry department of the University of Athens.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
i. Cooperation with the European Union Authorities
- The laboratory participates in the annual workshops and proficiency tests, organized by the following European Reference Laboratories
- RIKILT - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Wageningen, Netherlands (European Reference Laboratory for Anabolic steroids and Hormones)
- ANSES - French Agency for Food Safety, Fougeres, France (European Reference Laboratory for Antibiotics)
- BVL - Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Berlin, Germany (European Reference Laboratory for Coccidiostatics, b-Agonists and NSAIDs)
- The laboratory participates in the Committee of Experts on Veterinary Residues, organized by the European Commission, DG Health and Consumers.
ii. Cooperation with the Analytical Chemistry department of the University of Athens
The scope of accreditation of the Laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 can be found on the web page CYS-CYSAB (Accredited Bodies, Laboratories of the State General Laboratory of Cyprus).