Glossary

An accreditation is proof of competence and trustworthiness. It is awarded by an independent accreditation body and is subject to strict review on a regular basis.

In an assessment, the analysed laboratory results of a sample are checked with regard to their compliance with legal requirements and regulations.

An audit is a systematic, independent and documented process to verify certain audit criteria.

A distinction is made between internal audits and external audits. In internal audits, a department audits itself or departments audit each other. External audits are carried out by authorities or customers, for example.

A confirmation (“certificate”) is usually required for export to third countries. An export certificate must always refer to laboratory tests, whereby the scope is determined by our experts or by requirements of the destination country (if any). These can be obtained from the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) or the foreign distribution partner.

A Health Certificate is usually issued for export. However, it is possible to specify one or combined headings in the “certificate”, e.g. Free Sales Certificate, Sanitary Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate.

A prerequisite for issuing an export certificate is that the company where the product is actually produced has an IFS, HACCP, BRC or ISO9000 certificate (or equivalent).

Factory inspections are carried out by our inspection body on the basis of individual agreements. They focus on the production method, quality and safety of a food product. Depending on the agreement, the origin of the raw materials, production specifications and their compliance, quality assurance measures and the effectiveness of self-check systems are also checked.

A complete labelling assessment comprises an assessment in accordance with

• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (FIC)
• All applicable horizontal regulations (health claims, additives, organic, etc.)
• All applicable special regulations (fruit juice, jams, chocolate, frozen food, etc.)
• Relevant chapters of the Austrian Food Codex
• As well as an examination for misleading statements as laid out in Section 5 of the LMSVG and Article 7 of the FIC.

Such a check can be carried out on the basis of the label on the product as well as on the basis of a draft label (pdf file with indication of the best-before date format).

The limit of detection (LOD, detection limit (German: Nachweisgrenze, NWG)) is the smallest detectable amount of a substance that can be qualitatively detected in a single measurement. The detection limit is a decision limit for the presence of a constituent.

The limit of quantification (LOQ, quantification limit, determination limit (German: Bestimmungsgrenze, BG) is the smallest amount of a substance that can be quantitatively detected in a single analysis. The limit of quantification is naturally higher than the limit of detection.

The marketability report is essential proof that the distributor has fulfilled its duty of care. Marketability means that the product complies with the relevant expectations and regulations and may therefore be placed on the market.

The measurement uncertainty serves as a delimitation of the range of values around the result of the analysis, within which the true value of the measured value lies.

Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by certain fungi, particularly mold, that can grow on food and feed under improper storage conditions such as high humidity and warmth. Mycotoxins are harmful to both humans and animals, potentially causing various diseases, including cancer, liver, and kidney damage. They are commonly found in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and spices. Therefore, monitoring mycotoxins in food and feed is a crucial part of food safety.

A qualitative detection provides information on the presence of a constituent and is purely a yes or no statement.

Reference materials are standardized substances or samples used as a basis for calibration, validation, and quality control in various analytical processes. They have known and precisely defined properties, such as chemical composition, purity, or physical parameters, enabling precise and reproducible measurement results. In laboratories and industries, particularly in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food sectors, reference materials ensure that measurement methods are applied correctly and results are reliable. They play a crucial role in ensuring accuracy, consistency, and traceability across all areas of analytical chemistry and quality testing.

Learn more about reference materials.