Laboratory Approval Scheme (LAS)
For those Laboratories registered with the New Zealand Food Safety Authority as "LAS Approved Laboratories", there are mandatory requirements for participation in designated Inter-laboratory Comparison Programmes for all products, tests and in some cases, test methods for which the laboratory holds approval for.
Official tests in each designated ILCP are detailed in the Laboratory Approval Scheme (current version) in sections 6.2 to 6.8. This section also lists the participation requirements that must be followed for all Official tests. A summary is included here, but it is recommended that Section 6 of LAS is consulted for full details of requirements.
The Laboratory Approval Scheme (LAS) specifies the standards and requirements for New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) Approved Laboratories that carry out microbiological and chemical tests for market access assurances.
A major component of the Laboratory Approval Scheme (LAS) is an Inter-laboratory Comparison Programme (ILCP), which underpins the credibility of LAS.
Designated LAS Inter-Laboratory Comparison Programmes
Potable Water Microbiology - minimum number of rounds per year: 6
Labs can meet LAS requirements by participating in Global Proficiency's Water Microbiology proficiency testing (PT) scheme.
Potable Water Chemistry - minimum number of rounds per year: 2
Labs can meet LAS requirements by participating in Global Proficiency's WaterChek PT scheme
Tallow and Fats Chemistry -
Minimum number of rounds per year for "routine" Tallow samples: 6
Minimum number of rounds per year for "Insoluble Impurities" in Tallow: 2
Labs can meet LAS requirements by participating in Global Proficiency's Tallow PT scheme.
Meat and Poultry Microbiology - minimum number of rounds per year: 11
Labs can meet LAS requirements by participating in Global Proficiency's Meat Microbiology PT scheme.
Meat Chemistry - minimum number of rounds per year: 6
Labs can meet LAS requirements by participating in Global Proficiency's Meat Chemistry PT scheme.
Seafood Microbiology - minimum number of rounds per year: 4
Labs can meet LAS requirements by participating in one, or both, of Global Proficiency's Food Microbiology or Shellfish Microbiology PT schemes.
Pathogens Microbiology - LAS requires labs to participate in 2 rounds per year for the following LAS Official tests:
- Salmonella & Listeria monocytogenes
- E. coli O157:H7
- Campylobacter Enumeration
- Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Labs can meet LAS requirements by participating in Global Proficiency's Pathogens PT schemes. For more information, please see the Salmonella & Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Campylobacter, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus PT schemes.
For specific information on each programme, please follow the links above.
