AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TESTING & INSPECTION
All kinds of agricultural product testing for all reasons including import and export commodities.
Below is a List of Agricultural Products Testing from our Accredited and Certified Labs:
Please note that we are also doing Certified Inspection/Survey for cargo loading and discharge. Please visit our Inspection Services Page for more details.
Agricultural product testing is the inspection and analysis of food and agricultural commodities to ensure their quality, safety, and compliance with regulations. This process is vital for protecting consumer health, enhancing marketability, and ensuring product integrity across the supply chain.
Types of agricultural product testing
Product quality and safety tests:
- Microbiological testing: Detects harmful bacteria, yeasts, and molds to prevent foodborne illnesses. Commonly tested products include raw meat, poultry, and grains.
- Pesticide residue testing: Identifies and quantifies residual chemicals in fruits, vegetables, and grains to ensure they are within maximum residue limits (MRLs).
- Heavy metals testing: Measures levels of toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury in all agricultural products.
- Mycotoxin testing: Detects naturally occurring fungal toxins in crops like corn, wheat, and peanuts.
- Nutritional analysis: Determines the levels of nutrients, such as protein, fat, and minerals, and verifies nutritional claims on packaging.
- Sensory evaluation: Involves human senses to assess a product’s appearance, flavor, and aroma.
- Authenticity testing: Verifies a product’s origin or composition to prevent fraud, such as mislabeling single-origin foods or adulterating honey.
- Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) testing: Identifies the presence of GMOs to confirm compliance with labeling standards.
Crop production and environmental tests:
- Soil testing: Analyzes soil composition, pH levels, and nutrients to optimize crop production and check for contaminants.
- Water testing: Checks for salinity, pH, and contaminants in irrigation water to ensure it is suitable for crops.
- Fertilizer and nutrient analysis: Assesses fertilizer quality and guides farmers on its efficient use.
- Plant tissue testing: Provides insight into a crop’s nutrient uptake during the growing season to detect deficiencies.
How agricultural products are tested
- Sampling: Standardized procedures are used to collect representative samples from a farm, batch, or consignment to be tested. This can involve taking soil cores, selecting produce from a shipment, or gathering processed material.
- Laboratory analysis: Samples are sent to accredited laboratories for a range of tests using advanced analytical methods.
- Chromatography and mass spectrometry are used to detect chemical residues.
- PCR-based methods verify GMO content.
- Microbial culturing identifies pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli.
- Data interpretation: Laboratory results are compared against regulatory limits and industry standards, and a report is generated.
- Reporting and certification: The test results determine if a product meets safety standards and can be used for certification purposes, such as organic or export quality.
Regulations and standards
Several entities and regulations govern agricultural product testing to ensure validity and compliance:
- International standards: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides standards for testing and calibration laboratories, such as ISO/IEC 17025, which ensures the competence and reliability of lab results. The Codex Alimentarius Commission establishes international food standards to protect consumer health.
- National and regional standards: Most countries have their own food safety laws. Examples include the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and regulatory bodies in Pakistan.
- Certification bodies: Independent organizations and programs verify specific claims through testing. These include USDA Organic, EU Organic, and Fairtrade Certification
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