Riga, Latvia, 19 August – 23 August 2019: The European Union funded Project “Support to Further Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Turkmenistan (SARD III)” held a study tour to Riga, Latvia for the food laboratory managers and specialists of the Public Health and Nutrition Center of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and for the specialists of the private sector food safety laboratory “Hil Standart”.
The study tour was organized by the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR” (Latvia). Representatives of the Institute familiarized specialists from Turkmenistan with scientific and laboratory activities of the Institute, and ensured practical and theoretical training of Turkmen experts focused on the international standard ISO 17025 requirements for testing laboratories.
During the study tour, specialists from Turkmenistan were introduced to laboratory operation processes, namely, chemical and microbiological testing of food products, and quality control of laboratory activities. Study tour participants were assigned to different laboratory divisions based on their specializations to ensure success and efficiency of the training.
Experts from Turkmenistan expressed particular interest in the expertise of BIOR laboratories utilized for up to date development of food testing methods and conducting of inter-laboratory comparison tests to ensure the accuracy of laboratory tests.
The programme of visit also included meetings with the representatives of the University of Latvia and the Latvian accreditation body “LATAK”.
The study tour was part of the SARD III activities aimed at supporting the Government of Turkmenistan in increasing productivity and competitiveness of the agro-food sector through activities that improve production, processing and marketing, as well as strengthening the capacity of supporting public sector agriculture institutions. Improving the laboratories’ performance and international recognition of food laboratories in Turkmenistan will further increase the export of agricultural and food products, especially to developed countries.
More information on the SARD III activities is available at www.sard3tm.org .
For more information, please contact:
Viktoriya Frolova
Public Relations Specialist E-mail: [email protected]
