Julien Parinet presented the work done in the framework of the ANR AlimOmic during the JPFSA in Marrakech (Morocco) on June 2 and 3, 2022. The opportunity to exchange with the analytical chemists of Morocco and to establish a number of contacts for the future.   http://jpfsa.com/  

Yassine Makni has published its first article in Food Chem as first author (second article) and Thierno Diallo its second article (but this time as second author). Congratulation! Abstract: A screening method was developed for the multi-residue analysis of pesticides in baby foods using QuEChERS and UHPLC-Q-TOF. For sample preparation, the two-buffered versions of QuEChERS and different purification procedures were studied. False negatives and false positives were determined using different thresholds mentioned in the literature on the retention time and accurate mass measurement detection criteria. To reach unequivocal identification, the fragmentation spectra of the pesticides were used. The information-dependant-acquisition (IDA) mode was optimized with a precursor-inclusion list (PIL) to limit the loss of MS/MS data. Then, the experimental fragmentation spectra were compared to those included in a homemade library, by assessing different MS/MS algorithms and similarity scores. The optimised method was validated according to SANTE/11312/2021 guidelines. 95% and 73% of the pesticides presented a screening detection limit (SDL) and a limit of identification (LOI) ≤ 0.1 mg.kg−1. One plasticizer was found in the investigated samples by a suspect-screening approach. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133573

Launch of a new Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) training programme on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods and on the studies to be implemented to satisfactorily meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for food. ​ This training programme was developed by the EURL for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), in collaboration with Competent Authorities and National Reference Laboratories for Lm in Europe. ​ The first training session of this BTSF was held from 21 to 24 June in Trim, Ireland. 26 participants from 13 European countries, mainly inspectors of the competent authorities, actively participated in this training and left satisfied with the organisation (work in groups, convivial diners) and the content of the latter which allowed them to acquire a better understanding of the regulation and to have an increased level of expertise at the end of the session. More information on the next three sessions is available on the BTSF website: https://btsfacademy.eu/training/course/info.php?id=338

The EURL team was happy to welcome our colleagues from the Danish NRL, Per Kryger, head of the NRL, and his technician, Anna la Cour, to support them in their process of accreditation on regulated diseases. They were welcomed by Stéphanie Franco and Véronique Duquesne, also heads of the French NRL for Bee Health, Karim Sidi-Boumedine, the bacteriology project manager and former laboratory quality manager, and Marie-Pierre Rivière, head of the HoneyBee Pathology Unit and deputy head of the EURL. After a presentation given by Per on the Danish NRL activities, fruitful discussions took place and visits of the laboratory allowed to give concrete examples on how to perform diagnosis methods compliant with international standard ISO 17025. Hence, our Danish colleagues could benefit from the expertise of Stéphanie and Véronique for methods on varroosis and infestations by Aethina tumida and Tropilaelaps spp. as well as expertise of Karim and Stéphanie for American and European foulbrood, together with Jean-Charles Thomarat, technician in bacteriology. The EURL team was delighted to welcome Per and Anna, after two years of virtual meetings, and gave them support in this process.

The first physical management meeting of the year was held in IZSLER facility in Brescia from 28 to 29 March 2022. Thirteen members of the Centre met in order to prepare the future period’s work-programme, the third CAs meeting, and work together on the 2022 various tasks. The health director of IZSLER Giuseppe Merialdi was pleased to welcome all consortium members.  After the meeting, four members of the Centre took the opportunity to visit a hatchery on March 30. The ovosexing system was presented, as a practical demonstration of the equipment running in the hatchery. 

On 31 March 2022, the coordinator and deputy coordinator met with the Italian Reference Centre for Animal Welfare (CReNBA). Both EURCAW-Poultry-SFA and CReNBA presented their teams, past, present, and future activities. The Classyfarm System was detailed and possible training and best practices collaboration were discussed.

  The inter-laboratory test (ILT) focused on the evaluation of the real-time RT-PCR techniques is underway. Samples have been dispatched to all the laboratories who registered to take part to this ILT. One of the goals of this test is to realise an inventory of all the molecular biology techniques (MBT) used and available in each lab of the European Union. This inventory will create a good opportunity to compare and check efficiency caracteristics of real-time RT-PCR techniques. Deadline for submission of the results is may 6th 2022. The Eurl Team wishes the best to all participants.

The registration in the 13th workshop for rabies that will held on 15 and 16 June 2022 in Warsaw is now closed. Due to the current geo-political situation, the workshop originally planned from a "face to face" solution will move to an hybrid conference event. This will allow, participants of the Workshop to choose whether to participate remotely, or physically. For organisation matter, if not done already, please inform us rapidly of your choice of attendance. This 13th session of the workshop for rabies will address the current situation of rabies surveillance and control in EU. More details as the provisional agenda will be soon relayed to registered participants. Looking forward to see you soon!

I am happy to share the first publication of Thierno Diallo and Yassine Makni in the framework of their PhD projects Amphibie and AlimOmic, respecitvely. In this study, they developed a QuEChERS-LC-HRMS method for the screening of 204 pesticides in bivalves. In addition to the optimisation of the QuEChERS method using design of experiments, the impact of different HRMS acquisition modes on detection and identification were also evaluated.

ISAH, the International Society for Animal Hygiene, will organize the 20th ISAH Congress in a Hybrid format in Berlin, Germany from 5 to 7 October 2022. Registration is available here. ISAH members as online participants (all countries), and online participants from Ukraine and from developing countries have the possibility of a free of Charge Online participation. The Call of Papers is open until 31 March 2022 (Link). Abstracts and/or full-length papers of orals and posters will be published as Congress Proceedings. ISAH 2022 is dedicated to topics in animal hygiene as well as animal welfare and environmental protection such as:  Infectious diseases (including COVID-19) and AMR in the One Health context Pig production: infectious diseases (e.g. ASF) and disease preventing measures. Poultry production: infectious and non-infectious issues, novel technologies. Animal welfare - recent developments Farming systems with outdoor access - welfare and biosecurity Effluents/emissions from livestock and sustainable animal production Free topics For more information on the ISAH 2022 Congress, click here