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Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)

Regulations

Regulations regarding Control of the Export of Tree Nuts

7. Assessment of the competence of testing Laboratories involved in the export of tree nuts

 

(1) For the purpose of analysis as required by regulation 6(1), analysis maybe conducted by a National Reference Laboratory or an Officially Recognized Laboratories.

 

(2) The Executive Officer shall nominate a National Reference Laboratory or Officially Recognized Laboratory in writing to conduct analyses as set out in subregulation (1).

 

(3) The said laboratories shall be considered on the basis of their suitability,which suitability shall inter alia be based on the following criteria:
(a) A reasonable demonstrable knowledge or expertise in the testing and analysis of tree nuts;
(b) Compliance with the general criteria for testing laboratories as laid down in ISO/IEC 17025: 2017;
(c) Annual participation in appropriate proficiency testing schemes for analysis which conform to the requirements as laid down in the document titled "The international harmonized protocol for the proficiency testing of analytical laboratories";
(d) Whenever available, use methods of analysis which have been validated according to the principles as laid down by the Codex Alimentarius Commission; and
(e) Use internal quality control procedures as described in the document titled "Harmonized Guidelines for internal Quality Control in Analytical Chemistry Laboratories".

 

(4) In addition to compliance with suitability criteria as set out in subregulation (3) an Officially Recognized Laboratory shall be considered for nomination on the following grounds:
(a) Of necessity in as far as fulfillment of capacity as determined from time to time by the Executive Officer.
(b) On a three-year period, the period which may be considered for renewal upon assessment by the Executive Officer.