The 3rd GCC Laboratory Proficiency Conference is organized as part of the strategic orientations of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) for the development of the standardization and quality infrastructure, thereby contributing to the development of commerce and industry and to the support of national economy in the GCC member states. Since the field of proficiency testing is newly introduced in the GCC member states and as the infrastructure of laboratories has not yet taken the shape of national or regional organizations representing the laboratories and reflecting their requirements, GSO is in need of meeting with a considerable group of laboratories to explore and prioritize GCC member states’ requirements in terms of the fields which must top the list of the fields to be developed and upgraded. Based on the study conducted by GSO during 2011 on the status of proficiency testing activities in the member states which shown that the laboratories operating in the member states are in need of a unified data center on proficiency testing activities, GSO organized two conferences in 2013 and 2014 on the subject. The conferences scored high rates of success in terms of the selected scientific material, quality of speakers and the targeted audience. Accordingly, GSO conceptualization of the method of coordinating and upgrading the activity of proficiency tests in the GCC member states included a recommendation on the organization of annual training courses and awareness symposia by the GSO on the fields of proficiency tests. This year’s Conference will be held in Dubai during two days the 24th and 25th of March 2015, and will coincide with the annual Analytical Industry exhibition ARABLAB which will be held in Dubai during the period 23 – 26 March 2015.

1. Detection of Traces of Alcohol in Beverages
New Programme Developed for GSO

2. Agenda
• Introduction
• Programme Background
• About Global Proficiency
• Programme Outline
• Who should participate?
• How to Register?

3. Introduction
Proficiency Providers
Tender
GSO
New Programme
• Specific to the local market needs
• Able to be delivered promptly
• Within the defined budget
Global Proficiency’s new programme –
Detection of Traces of Alcohol in Beverages

4. Programme Background
• Food and drinks which are allowed to be consumed according to
Islamic rules should comply with the Halal requirements (GSO
05/FDS/1931:2014 Standard)
• In case of beverages, the rule is that the drinks must not cause
intoxication when consumed in large quantities.
• This is quantified by the allowed limit of 0.1% of alcohol in the
drink.

5. Programme Background
• The acceptance level (0.1%) is very close to the detection limit of
most commonly used laboratory methods for ethanol detection.
• This presents a challenge to the laboratories but also presents a
concern for consumers on how confident they can be that the
beverages they consume are truly halal?

6. Programme Background
This programme is offered with the intent to:
• Assess laboratories capability to perform the test correctly
• Give the laboratories confidence in the results issued
• Evaluate method suitability
• Provide assurance to manufacturers and processors
• Build confidence and trust for the consumers that the label claims
are accurate

7. About Global Proficiency
• Global Proficiency was chosen by GSO as an reputable PT Provider
• Our proficiency programmes are focused on several industries:
– Dairy (Dairy products, Milk, Ice Cream, Infant Formula)
– Environmental (Waters, Soils, Plants, Fertiliser and Timber)
– Food (General Food, Pathogens, Meat, Shellfish, Fats and Oils)
– Beverages (Water, Wine, Juices, Carbonated Drinks and Spirits)
– Offering various other PT programmes, Reference Material and related services
• We are accredited to ISO 17043:2010, the internationally
recognised standard of competence for proficiency testing
providers.

8. Global Proficiency provides service to more than 700 laboratories in 80 countries.

9. Programme Outline
PT Programme Detection of Traces of Alcohol in Beverages will
cover a range of non-alcoholic beverages including fruit juices,
vitamin drinks and flavoured water:
• five samples per proficiency round
• range of products
• a range of spike levels
• possible duplicate sample provision
• to be offered in May 2015

10. Programme Outline
Event Period Responsible
Submission of proposal to APLAC PT Committee 15 March 2015 GSO
Invitation to participants 24 March 2015 GSO
Sample Preparation 30 March 2015 GP
Homogeneity testing 8 April 2015 GP
Stability testing 8 April – 15 May 2015 GP
Deadline for registration 15 April 2015 GP
Sample despatch 27 April 2015 GP
Result submission due date 15 May 2015 GP
Statistical assessment of results 25 May 2015 GP
Report and newsletter distribution 5 June 2015 GP

11. Who should participate?
• Laboratories form GSO member countries
– 10 free registrations are available
• APLAC nominated laboratories
– 15 free registrations are available
Selection of the laboratories will be based on the order of
applications received.

12. How to register?
• Submit application to register for participation in this programme
to Global Proficiency no later than 15 April
• APLAC application will be coordinated by GSO and submitted to
GP no later than 15 April
• There is an option to register at the conference – please see me
after the presentation
• Also please see me to get more information including relaevant
pamphlets about this programme and other services Global
Proficiency offers

13. Thank you!