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R&D programs to analyze food
contaminants in local foods and facilitate food trade of Pakistan.
Ongoing Research
Activities
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Monitoring of chemical
contaminants in food and feed by employing advanced nuclear,
immunochemical and chromatographic techniques
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Development of cost-effective
method to control food contaminants like in-house ELISA and
CHARM method for multiple food contaminants analysis
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Maintenance of ISO/IEC-17025:2017
accreditation of Food Safety Labs from Pakistan National
Accreditation Council (PNAC), Islamabad
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Standardization and validation of
test methods as per EU regulations for participation in
Proficiency Testing for continuation of ISO/IEC-17025
accreditation
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Radiometric analysis to study
distribution and depletion of antimicrobials in food-producing
animals by using radiolabeled and non-labeled drug formulations
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Development of radioreceptor
binding assay by using in-house receptors to monitor biotoxins
in food, feed and water samples
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Provision of accredited analytical
services to EU registered sheep casings and meat exporters of
Pakistan to facilitate national trade
Research
Achievements
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In 2017, Food Safety Labs
(previously known as Veterinary Drug Residues Labs) are
accredited for ISO/IEC-17025 from PNAC, Islamabad (Lab # 119).
Labs were inaugurated by Mr. Yukiya Amano (Ex. DG IAEA) in
March, 2018
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These labs are equipped with
advanced screening and post-screening analytical techniques like
ELISA, CHARM, HPLC, GC and LC-MS. The manpower in these labs is
technically trained from world-renowned food safety laboratories
like IAEA Seibersdorf Austria, AFBI Belfast (UK), BVK Turkey,
NMISA South Africa, AVA Singapore, RIKILT Netherlands, etc.
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Initially, labs were accredited
for 7 veterinary drug residues (VDR) tests. Later on in 2021,
Labs have extended their accreditation scope by adding 7 new
mycotoxin tests and in 2023, further scope extended by including
Nitroimidazole test. Currently, labs are accredited for 15 tests
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During 2015-25, labs have
qualified total 19 Proficiency Testings from Progetto Trieste,
Italy and FAPAS® UK by using ELISA, HPLC-FL (Hitachi) and UHPLC-MS/MS
(Thermo Scientific)
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Labs have successfully developed
in-house ELISA for screening of Triazines group pesticides
(specifically Atrazine) in food & environment and gave dipsticks
format for on-site monitoring in water and for Chloramphenicol
detection in bovine milk.
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Radioreceptor binding assay has
been developed for multiple food contaminants analysis under
IAEA CRP 22144
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Depletion profiles have been
studies for Oxytetracyclien, Chlorteracycline, Amoxicillin and
Ampicillin in poultry system under IAEA CRP 23929
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Contributed in establishment of
Food Safety Asia Network (http://www.foodsafetyasia.net) under
IAEA RAS 5078 project in which Pakistan was Lead Country. This
network is being used by 33 registered member states. At this
forum, different analytical protocols (>60) have also been
uploaded to help in food contaminants analysis
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Since 2021, labs are also proving
VDR analytical services for National Residue Monitoring Plan of
sheep casings through Ministry of NFS&R, Islamabad to fulfill
the EU requirements
Future
Directions
Enhancement of testing capabilities
for targeted / non-targeted food contaminants (Pesticides, Toxic
metals, Biotoxins, Phytotoxins) as per international standard like
CODEX.
Funded Projects
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IAEA CRP 23929 titled “Radiotracer
Studies to Determine Pharmacokinetics Behavior of Veterinary
Drugs in Food-Producing Animals” 2022-26
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IAEA TCP RAS 5096 titled
“Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Food Safety Monitoring
Programmes for Chemical Contaminants and Residues in Plant and
Animal Products Using Nuclear/Isotopic Techniques” 2022-25
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IAEA CRP 25027 titled “Innovative
Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques for a range of Biotoxins
Detection in Food and related Matrices including In-house
Developed Receptor” 2021-26
Collaborations
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International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA)
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Asian Development Bank (ADB)
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Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO)
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Codex Alimentarius
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Ministry of National Food Security
& Research (NFS&R), Islamabad
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National Institute for
Biotechnology and, Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad
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University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad
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Government College University,
Faisalabad
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Punjab Food Authority
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EU registered exporters of
Pakistan
Click on
following link for detailed Brochure;
Analytical Services
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