Public analysts

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Public analysts were first recognised as a profession in the 19th Century. Public analysts carry out a wide range of analysis, including food and feed. They must hold a Mastership in Chemical Analysis awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry. They provide expert advice on the interpretation of legislation and produce certificates of analysis which are submitted as evidence in legal cases.

in the UK, public analysts operate out of laboratories, which are either private companies or owned by local authorities. However, public analysts mostly carry out work for local government, and have to remain independent and avoid any conflict of interest in working for private food businesses. A list of Official Food Control Laboratories in the UK can be found at the link below.

The Food Standards Agency is considering revising the Food Safety (Sampling & Qualifications) Regulations 1990 to make sure the Public Analyst service meets the needs of a modern analytical service, and in light of the EU Food and Feed Regulations. As a first stage in the consultation process, the FSA hosted a workshop on 1 December 2009 to ensure that a range of stakeholders had the opportunity to express their opinions and help the FSA develop its thinking. The report of this workshop can be found at the pdf link below.