Expanding Laboratory Accreditation Scope to Ensure Food Quality and Safety

The Value Chain Agro Finance Project supports state laboratories in the Kyrgyz Republic in expanding their accreditation scope for testing food quality and safety parameters. This technical assistance also includes training and professional development for laboratory specialists.

On 14 October 2026, Project experts held a working meeting with the management and specialists of the Centre for Standardization and Metrology under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the results of the training activities and their impact on the professional competencies of laboratory specialists. Laboratory staff demonstrated how they apply the knowledge gained in their daily work.

Particular attention was given to the progress achieved, existing needs, and the next steps required to expand the laboratories’ accreditation scope for food quality and safety testing.

With the Project’s support, the laboratory introduced and improved the following testing methods:

• Determination of aflatoxins B₁ and M₁ in food products in accordance with GOST 30711-2001. This method enables the detection and quantification of aflatoxins, which pose a risk to human health.

• Determination of patulin in processed fruit and vegetable products in accordance with GOST 28038-2013. The standard provides methods for determining the mycotoxin patulin, including high-performance liquid chromatography.

• Determination of chemical elements in water in accordance with GOST R 57165-2016 (ISO 11885:2007). This method is based on inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and is used to determine the concentrations of various elements in drinking, natural, and other types of water.

The working meeting was also attended by Bakyt Aituganov, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the work completed and assess the results of the technical assistance provided by the Project. This support aims to improve the quality of laboratory testing and strengthen the capacity of the national food quality and safety control system in the Kyrgyz Republic.

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