International Committee Management
AOCS, through the American National Standards Institute, hosts a
number of Technical Advisory Groups representing US interests within
the framework of ISO/TC 34 Food Products. This activity provides a
forum for all interested parties to participate in ISO activities. A
major focus is the harmonization among international partners of
methods of analysis relevant to the fats and oils industry. As a
standards development organization (SDO), AOCS is also an
international non-governmental organization (NGO) recognized by the
FAO and active participant in the Codex Committees on Fats and Oils,
and Measuring, Analysis, and Sampling.
AOCS organizes and participates in international collaborative
studies, which lead to the global harmonization of analytical
methodology. Multi-laboratory, multi-national groups cooperate with
leading international organizations such as FOSFA, ISO, and IUPAC to
enhance and streamline the methods development process.
NEW ISO SUBCOMMITTEE CREATED FOR FOOD MOLECULAR BIOMARKER ANALYSIS
A new subcommittee entitled Molecular Biomarker Analysis (Officially: SC16/Horizontal methods for the detection of molecular biomarkers in: foods; seeds and propagules of food crops; commodity food crops; fruits; vegetables and derived foods) was recently established by International Standards Committee (ISO) Technical Committee 34: Food Products. The ISO Technical Management Board ratified its creation after a successful vote by representatives from Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Morocco, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States. This new subcommittee is named ISO/TC 34/SC 16 and its secretariat is held by the American National Standards Institute. Dr. Richard Cantrill, Technical Director of the AOCS (American Oil Chemists' Society), has been appointed secretary. In response to the creation of the new SC, a new US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for ISO/TC 34/SC 16 was established. Ms. Gina Clapper, AOCS Technical Services Division, was appointed as its secretary. During its first meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, July 23, 2008, the TAG chose Dr. Raymond Shillito, Regional External Technical Director for Bayer CropScience, as its Chairperson. TAG members nominated Dr. Michael Sussman, Director of USDA/Agricultural Marketing Service's Field Laboratory Services, to be the Chairperson for the new subcommittee. The subcommittee will hold its first plenary meeting in Chicago, IL, November 11-13, 2008.
The subcommittee will initially have three working groups (WGs). WG1, the first working group is titled, Detection of specific molecular biomarkers (e.g. products derived from modern biotechnology) in seeds and food plants and foodstuffs. WG2 will work on standards for varietal identification and WG3 will focus on the detection of pathogens of seeds and plants. The scope of the SC's activity will be horizontal and include methods that test nucleic acids, e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection, real time PCR detection, genotypic analysis and sequencing, proteins, e.g. enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and other suitable methods including those for the detection of gene technology derived products. The subcommittee's work will not include food microbiological methods. The subcommittee will also take over the work previously carried out by ISO/TC 34/WG 7 and led by CEN/TC 275/WG 11.
For more information on future meetings, the proposed work of the subcommittee, or to join the US TAG for this subcommittee, contact Richard Cantrill/Gina Clapper (Richard.Cantrill@aocs.org; ginac@aocs.org).
