Current standards on food and beverages
Health is getting higher and higher on the agenda
In the food sector, European and international standards apply in Austria. Austrian standardisation benefits, for example, consumers who wish to have health and safety guarantees. Every year, around 30 new specifications are published.
Quality in Austria
- Credit: ASI prm
Austrian food products and fruit juices stand out by their top quality in an international comparison. At the Austrian Standards Institute, experts have developed tools for ensuring this high quality level for several decades.
In particular, a series of test methods has existed for milk, meat and cereals for many years. Oilseeds, spices and fruit juices, however, have to meet high demands as well.
Quality assurance (up-to-date selection 2008):
ÖNORM EN ISO 24333 Cereals and cereal products - Sampling
ÖNORM EN 15633-1 Detection of food allergens by immunological methods
ÖNORM EN 15652 Foodstuffs — Determination of niacin by HPLC
Austrian hygiene standards
- Credit: ASI prm
Both consumers and manufacturers demand that particularly high requirements be met in the field of hygiene. National standards that are not applicable in any other country safeguard high quality from basic foodstuffs to products offered for sale in supermarkets.
Examples:
ÖNORM N 1000-1 Hygiene training — Terminology
ÖNORM N 1000-2 Hygiene training — Implementation
ÖNORM N 1001 Cleaning and disinfection
ÖNORM N 1500 (5 parts): Laboratories for microbiological analyses
Mandatory labelling of genetically modified products
- Credit: pixelio.de / Claudia Huldi
The progress of biotechnology brings more and more genetically modified food on the market. In Austria, genetically engineered products must be labelled. Hence, experts develop tools for detecting genetic manipulations.
Detection of genetic modifications:
ISO 21568: Sampling
ISO 21569: Qualitative nucleic acid based methods
ISO 21570: Quantitative nucleic acid based methods
ISO 21571: Nucleic acid extraction
ISO 21572: Protein based methods
ISO 24276: Requirements and definitions
Integrated management systems
- Credit: ASI prm
Another path for ensuring quality is the organisation of enterprises. Therefore, internationally recognised management systems have been integrated into Austrian standardisation.
Food safety management:
ÖNORM EN ISO 22000: Requirements for any organisation in the food chain
ÖNORM ISO/TS 22004: Guidance on the application of ISO 22000
ÖNORM EN ISO 22005: Traceability in the feed and food chain — General principles and basic requirements
Methods for analysing new products
- Credit: ASI prm
Given the growing market for low-fat and plant products, experts draw up standards designed to monitor this development. For that purpose, new analytical methods are required and new standards have to be set.
Low-fat and plant products (selection):
ÖNORM EN 15054: Determination of chlormequat and mepiquat using the LC-MS method
ÖNORM EN 15055: Determination of chlormequat and mepiquat using the LC-MS/MS method
ÖNORM EN 12393 (3 parts): Multiresidue methods for the determination of pesticide residues
Food code
- Credit: ASI prm
More than 450 standardisation documents apply to foodstuffs in Austria. The aim is to integrate the analytical methods developed into the Austrian food code.
This code – the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus – is not an act of law, but rather a continuously updated manual clarifying concepts and criteria for food and beverages traded on the Austrian market and has the status of an expert opinion.
