National Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organisms
from Foodstuffs and Feedingstuffs

1. NRL experts

• NRL coordinator

  Dr. Leau Florentina, PhD candidate
  tel. 0374.322.062 / 0374.322.092
  e-mail: florentina.leau@idah.ro

• NRL deputy coordinator

  Ch. Coste Handan, PhD in biology

• Team working

  Dr. Olaru Irina-Voichiţa, master in biochemistry and molecular biology
  Bioch. Zybaczynski Iulia
  Dr. Constantinescu Ioana, PhD candidate
  Bg. Vanghelie Luminita, PhD candidate

2. Correspondent Community Reference Laboratory

• Community Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organisms, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Ispra - Italy

3. Specific atributions

• The specialists working in this NRL have the responsibility for drawing up the handbook „Procedural Manual for Identification and Quantification of Genetically Modified Organisms from Foodstuffs and Feedingstuffs”.
• They also perform the changes and/or supplements for „Procedural Manual for Identification and Quantification of Genetically Modified Organisms from Foodstuffs and Feedingstuffs” in accordance with new provisions of Community law and new recommendations of
  • International Standard ISO 21569 – Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products - Qualitative nucleic acid based methods
  • International Standard ISO 21570 – Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products - Quantitative nucleic acid based methods
  • International Standard ISO 21571 – Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products – Nucleic acid extraction
  • European Standard ISO 24267 – Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products – General requirements and definitions
  • Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules.
• NRL experts approve the results of validity studies proving the reliability of methods/assays used in Romania for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• The experts coordinate pre-taking and drawing up the standards and methods for identification and quantification for genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs in Romania.
• They carry out researches activities, assimilate and draw up the new analytical methods for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• They participate together with the others national reference laboratories for genetically modified organisms from Member States, to the international inter-comparison and proficiency tests organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organisms.
• They participate to the quality assurance activities and standardization methods for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organisms.
• The NRL specialists collaborate with Community Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organisms and benefit from training organized by this and supplying standards, methods, reagents or diagnosis standards for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• The NRL experts collaborate with national reference laboratories for genetically modified organisms from the others Member States and other international accredited organizations in the field, in order to improve the capacity for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• In accordance with provisions of „Procedures Manual for Identification and Quantification of Genetically Modified Organisms from Foodstuffs and feedingstuffs”, they carry out the laboratory tests/assays for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• The NRL experts supply the expertise for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs in case of inconclusive results obtained by the sanitary veterinary and food safety county laboratories, and of Bucharest, respectively.
• The NRL experts supply the expertise for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs in case of dispute settlement.
• The NRL experts check and certify the diagnosis value of all diagnosis reagent batches for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs and designate their use by state sanitary veterinary laboratories from Romania.
• In preparation for yielding certain diagnosis reagents for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs, supplying them for all authorised sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories.
• They coordinate the drawing up of standards and methods for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs used by all authorized sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories.
• The NRL experts perform the annual inter-laboratory comparative tests for checking the capability for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs, for all authorized sanitary veterinary and food safety county laboratories from county sanitary veterinary and food safety directorates.
• NRL also organize training and continuous training activities, in order to teach the specialists working in the authorized sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories, on carrying out identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• The NRL experts carry out specific activities for identification, characterization and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• They preserve the counter-samples for all positive tested samples.
• The experts from NRL participate to the authorization of sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories; they write down the checking files and assessment report and verify the achievement of quality insurance system conditions.
• Periodically, they communicate to the European Commission the list of authorized and accredited institutions or sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories, having specific competences for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs and also to notify any changes of the list.
• The NRL experts communicate, with the agreement of National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority; the information requested by European Commission, Community Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organisms, World Animal Health Organization, and national reference laboratories for genetically modified organisms from other Member States and other international accredited organizations and institutions in the field.
• The NRL experts provide, to National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority and to sanitary veterinary and food safety county directorates, and of Bucharest, respectively, the official information on identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs with the aim of establishing the national strategies and policies on identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• In accordance with legislation in force, NRL promotes and implements the Good Laboratory Practice principles (GLP), to be used for applied research studies.
• They also participate to the drawing up, coordination, monitoring and carrying out some actions stipulated by “Programme for surveillance, prevention and control of animal diseases, those transmitted from animals to humans, animal and environmental protection”, yearly approved by National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority President’s order.
• They participate to the elaboration of law drafts for identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• They also participate to design the technical programs, the national and international projects regarding identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs.
• The NRL experts participate or manage the research activities of national or international research programmes.

4. Activity in relation with correspondent Community Reference Laboratory

• Attendance to workshops
  • 2007 - Annual meeting of National Reference Laboratories for Genetically Modified Organisms, ogranised by European Commission, General Directorate „Joint Research Center”, Ispra, Italy
  • 2008 - The First Global Conference for Genetically Modified Organisms, organized by European Community and Joint Research Center, Como, Italy
• Attendance to trainings
  • 2006 – Detection of genetically modified organisms and products containing genetically modified organisms, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organisms from foodstuffs and feedingstuffs, Ispra, Italy
• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
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5. Activity in relation with correspondent national reference laboratories from Member States

• Attendance to workshops
  • –
• Attendance to trainings
  • –
• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • –

6. Activity in relation with correspondent international reference laboratory

• Attendance to workshops
  • –
• Attendance to trainings
  • –
• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • –

7. Activity in relation with other international accredited institutions in the field

• Attendance to workshops
  • 2007 - Genetically Modified Organisms Detection and Quantification in food and feedstuff, organized by Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, Food Hygiene and Molecular Biology
  • 2008 - Use of reference materials and the estimation of measurement uncertainty, organized by Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements Geel
• Attendance to trainings
  • 2007 - Genetically Modified Organisms detection and Qualification in food and feedstuff, organized by Institutul Zooprofilactic Experimental Teramo, Italia
• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • 2009 - Fapas, 2009 - 2010 GEMMA Programme: PT GeMSU24 – Roundup Ready Soya (Qualitative & Quantitative)

8. Activity in relation with counties SVFSLs

• Workshop organization
  • –
• Training organization
  • 2007 - Conventional PCR for genetically modified organisms detection in soy products
  • 2008 – 3 trainig activities on „Construct specific method for identification of Roundup Ready soya (GTS 40-3-2)”
  • 2008 – 4 trainig activities on „Genetically modified organisms identification in soy food and feed”
  • 2009 - 3 trainig activities on „PCR tests for genetically modified organisms identification in raw material and food products of vegetal origin”
• Performing inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • 2008 - Genetically modified organisms identification in soy food and feed
  • 2009 - Genetically modified organisms identification in soy food and feed

9. Activity in relation with other institutions than SVFSLs or legal and private person

• Workshop organization
  • –
• Training organization
  • –
• Performing inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • 2009 - Genetically modified organisms identification in soy food and feed, a inter-comparison test performed with I.N.C.D.B.H. Ştefăneşti - Argeş