International Standards for Food and Fiber Authenticity and Allergen Detection from ISO TC 34/SC 16 Horizontal Methods for Molecular Biomarker Analysis
Senior Research Scientist US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock and Poultry Programs Brookeville, Maryland, United States
Abstract: ISO Technical Committee 34 “Food Products”/Subcommittee 16 “Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis” ensures that standardized biomolecular testing methods and laboratory criteria for agriculture and food production are reproducible and technically sound reducing potential disputes between exporting and importing nations and increasing predictability in world trade. Harmonized, easy to handle specifications, requirements and methods of analysis with defined patterns and known nomenclatures bring more customers to the market. TC 34/SC 16 has increased international stakeholders’ participation in standardizing biomarker testing, improved the quality and relevance of these standards and continues to increase transparency in international markets, particularly for food and fiber authenticity, varietal identification and genetically engineered (GMO) products. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO.org) was formed in 1946. It is an independent, non-governmental voluntary consensus standard body based in Geneva, Switzerland with a membership of 170 national standards bodies. The US ISO member is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI.org) a consortium of US standardization organizations. ISO TC 34/SC 16 was created in 2008. There are 46 participating countries. Contributing organizations in liaison with TC 34/SC 16 include AOAC International, Cereals and Grains Association, the European Commission, the International Seed Testing Association, the US Pharmacopeia, the European Plant Protection Organization, the International Plant Protection Convention and the Global Organic Textile Standard. The scope of TC 34/SC 16 is, "Standardization of biomolecular testing methods applied to foods, feeds, seeds and other propagules of food and feed crops." The US delegation responsible for developing the US position for standards development in food authenticity and allergen detection is called the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG). It was delegated to the American Oil Chemist’s Society (AOCS.org) by ANSI. AOCS also hosts the TC 34/SC 16 international secretariat. TC 34/SC 16 has published 35 standards with another 10 under development.
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