Food or feed contamination protection services

Tender description

The London Borough of Hillingdon is responsible for overseeing imported food and feed controls at its imported food office located at London Heathrow Airport. European Community legislation requires imports of certain food and feed products to be introduced into the United Kingdom only via approved inspection facilities. The imported food office at London Heathrow Airport is an approved inspection facility for both imports of products of animal origin, and those not of animal origin. The London Borough of Hillingdon are looking for a supplier or suppliers that can analyse imports of feed and food for the following contaminants: Lot A: Pesticide residues. Lot B: Caesium-134 and Caesium-137. Lot C: Microbiological contaminants. Lot D: Other Miscellaneous. Lot E: All of the above. The London Borough of Hillingdon reserve the right to award some or all of the tests shown above. The proposed new contract will be for 3 years from the 1.12.2018 with the option to extend for a further 2 years. On the 25.1.2010, Commission Regulation (EC) no 669/2009 came into force. This introduced enhanced checks on imports of fruits and vegetables originating from certain countries outside of the European Union. Consignments that are subject to these enhanced checks must undergo a documentary check. In addition to this, an identity check and physical examination must be carried out at varying frequencies as set out in the regulation. A.2 In cases where a physical examination takes place, a formal sample is taken from the consignment to be tested for a range of contaminants listed in the regulation. The most common laboratory test required at present by the imported food office is a test for the presence of pesticide residues. Following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power station on the 11.3.2011, the European Commission was informed that radionuclide levels in certain food products originating in Japan exceeded the action levels in food applicable in Japan. This contamination was considered to possibly constitute a threat to public and animal health in the European Union. The European Commission therefore published Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 297/2011 of the 25.3.2011 which imposed special conditions governing the import of feed and food originating in or consigned from Japan. Commission Implementing Regulation 2016/6 contains the most up-to-date import requirements applicable to imports of feed and food originating in or consigned from Japan. Article 10 of this Regulation sets out the official controls that are to be applied. This includes random physical checks, including laboratory analysis for the presence of Caesium-134 and Caesium-137 being carried out on consignments imported. Consignments that are tested remain detained for a maximum of five working days, pending the availability of the results of the laboratory analysis Microbiological analysis is required for both products of animal origin and products not of animal origin. The most common microbiological test required at present is a test for Salmonella SPP in betel leaves. Commission Implementing Regulation 2016/166 lays down specific conditions applicable to the import of foodstuffs containing or consisting of betel leaves (“Piper betle”) from India. This regulation requires imports of betel leaves to be accompanied by a health certificate and an analytical report issued by the competent authorities of India to ascertain compliance with European Union legislation on microbiological criteria of Salmonella SPP. In addition to these import requirements 10 % of imports must be analysed to as certain compliance with the import requirements. In addition to the analysis listed in specifications A-C, the London Borough of Hillingdon undertook testing forthe following contaminants: — plastic kitchenware — Formaldehyde/Primary aromatic amines, — pesticide analysis — dried products (e.g. tea), — mycotoxins, — sulphur dioxide, — chloramphenicol, — veterinary residues, — speciation testing, — adulteration, — nutrition and health claims, — dangerous substances (DNP, DMMA), — heavy metals, — histamine detection, — dioxins, — PAHs, — unauthorised GMOs, — Sudan dyes, — sulphites. The London Borough of Hillingdon imported food office 1st Floor Building 550 Shoreham Road East London Heathrow Airport Hounslow TW6 3UA.