LABORATORY TESTING QUALITY CONFERENCE 2007

“Exporters Need to Use Laboratories Which Apply Inter Laboratory Comparison and Proficiency Testing For Attaining the Reliability of Test Services so to Avoid the Barriers of Trade”

17 April 2007
Istanbul Technical University
Maslak / Istanbul
First Announcement

On the road to EU, Free Movement of Goods is still a problem for many products of Turkey. Exports of these products are made unnecessarily expensive and the pace is slowed down due to the lack of confidence buyers have in the Turkish laboratories’ test results. Accreditation alone will not resolve this issue of confidence. Fully applying the ISO 17025 paragraph 5.9 “Quality Assurance”, the checking of the accuracy of laboratory results to a sufficient degree by internal quality control with control charts, reference materials and certified reference materials and external quality control with inter laboratory comparisons (proficiency testing), is also needed.

International experience shows that laboratory results can differ several hundred percent when the first proficiency testing round is started in a country. And Turkey is no exception to this. But these results are normally improved radically after quality assurance tools are put in place. So we need to take quick action. This Conference is the first step towards such an action where exporters and laboratories will get together for to discuss this crucial issue and provide solutions during and after the conference.

AGENDA

This Conference is financed by the European Union.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This conference will provide a national forum for broad participation, including:

• Buying Agents and Exporters using laboratory tests
• Ministries of Health, Environment Agriculture, Public Works and Industry which regulate service and product quality
• Qualified Producers Assuring Their Quality with laboratory tests
• Trade and Industry Associations and Export Unions
• Laboratory Suppliers
• Laboratory Consultants
• Testing and Calibration Laboratory professionals
• Representatives of Accrediting and Standard-setting organizations
• General Public interested in access and quality issues associated with laboratory testing

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS

THE AIM OF THE CONFERENCE

The aim of this conference is to give information to participants in how they can contribute to improvement of the reliability of laboratory services; how authorities, organisations, associations, laboratory suppliers and other laboratory stakeholders and laboratory users can support this progress and of how laboratories can help themselves to improve their reliability through increased and adequate use of quality assurance tools.

The conference will thereby deliver the following messages:
• The branding of Turkish Quality in Textile depends heavily on reliable laboratory testing.
• Correct testing for aflatoxins, heavy metals and pesticides is crucial for exporting fruits to Europe
• The quality of food laboratory test is necessary for a healthier life, with fewer cases of food poisoning, and a supply of more appetizing and durable food products.
• Higher quality of testing will also help improve the export of medical services and increase the quality of living.

Reaching at above aims are the joint responsibility of laboratories, laboratory clients, the authorities (ministries and local governments), associations, organisations and laboratory suppliers. On the other hand, ensuring a fair competition between laboratories with and without quality assurance, in their services, is vital for flourishing quality of testing.

ORGANISERS AND STEERING COMMITTEE

PT and ILC project team
Dr. Jill Merry, Project Leader, PT and ILC project
Dr. Ömer Güzel, President TURKLAB
Arif Adnan Almeman, President SISDER
Gözde Gülbahar, Conference Secretariat

SPONSORS

UTM – ITKIB -Food Exporters Association – Kalder
Biochemistry Asscociation - Laboratory Suppliers

For further information and enrolment on our mailing list, please contact :
Gözde Gülbahar, +90 312 419 68 85
gozde.ogur@expert-centre.org

PRESENTATIONS

	Turkey's Challenges Regarding Free Movement of Goods to EU Compared to New EU Countries and EU Transition Countries by Ani Tordorova, Philip Taylor
	Test Quality from Product Safety and Market Surveillance side by Ayla Yüğrük (in Turkish only)
	Calibration Quality and Inter Laboratory Comparisons by Aynur Davut (in Turkish only)
	What do European Buyers Require to Gain Confidence in Turkish Laboratory Services? by Ayşe Ekmekçi (in Turkish only)
	The Presence and Importance of Aflatoxin in Hazelnut by Prof.Dr. Dilek Heperkan (in Turkish only)
	Quality Assurance in the Health Sector by Diler Aslan (in Turkish only)
	Türkiye Uyarlık Test Sunucuları Ağı Prof.Dr. Ender Okandan (in Turkish only)
	Mikrobiological Testing and Internal and External Quality Assurance Tools Jens Sinding
	Technical Legislation, Implementation and Inspection Mehmet Cömert (in Turkish only)
	Why Process Labs Should Upgrade Their Testing Quality to Improve Their Market Share in the World and What is the Buyers Perspectives Mehmet Güner
	Greetings Message Ulrike Hauer
	Proficiency Test Schemes - Food Sector Dr. Zeliha Yıldırım
	Ways Forward for Comparability and Traceability Between Turkish and EU Laboratories Jill Merry

last updated: 22.05.2007
burcak.oztekin@expert-centre.org