I EUROSOLAN meeting | Eurasian Soil Laboratory Network | 2 - 5 October 2019 | Chişinău, Moldova. Aynur ÖZBAHCE, Suat AKGÜL

1. First Meeting of the Regional Soil Laboratory Network
for Eurasia and Europe
National Reference Laboratories
Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Good
Laboratory Practices

2. Soil Fertilizer and Water Resources Central Research Institute
TURKEY

3. The Institute was established in
1954, in Ankara as a National
Specialization Institute under
General Directorate of Agricultural
Affairs.
After the Institute was converted to
Central Research Institution by the
approval of the Ministry in 2007,
renamed as Soil Fertilizer and Water
Resources Central Research
Institute.
HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTE

4. Our mission; is to carry out and conclude high quality researches that can
satisfy the demands of Turkish agricultural sector in the area of soil, fertilizer
and water resources and also support the Ministry both in national and
international levels in terms of research and policymaking through
concentrating on some activities like in-service trainings, seminars and
courses.
Our vision; is to produce data for the needs of the Ministry on an
institutional basis, to carry out national and international research studies,
and to assist solving the problems which the sector may encounter through
the increasing quality of institutional R&D capacity.
Task Description; to make a contribution to making and initiating policies
that consider human and environmental conditions through recommending
necessary advice based on internationally standardized research studies in
the area of soil, fertilizer and water resources.
MISSION and VISION

5. Laboratory Quality Management has been started to work with the
purpose of establishing quality consciousness and ensuring continuity in
controlled work in the Institute.
Having laboratories accepted by the Ministry for reference in soil water
and plant analyzes, the Institute has been accredited in NPK analyses on
chemical fertilizers according to TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 "General
Requirements for Qualification of Testing and Calibration Laboratories"
standard in 2010.
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
TS EN ISO/IEC 17025

6. It is the first laboratory in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry that is
accredited with regards to chemical fertilizers. The Institute has been
accredited in all laboratories on October 9, 2014. Institute's laboratories
were accredited in 39 methods by 2019.
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
TS EN ISO/IEC 17025

7. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
In 2017 the Institute was authorized within
the scope of the circular "Establishment
Authority and Inspection Circular of
Agricultural, Soil, Plant and Irrigation Water
Analysis Laboratories for Agricultural
Purposes" and Proficiency Test Cycle has been
started to be organized Proficiency Test twice
a year in accordance with the "TS EN ISO/IEC
17043 Conformity Assessment and General
Conditions for Proficiency Test".
In 2018, the Institute has been accredited by
TURKAK according to ISO EN/IEC 17043.
TS EN ISO/IEC 17043

8. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM
Since 2011, with the Internal Control System has defined the
functioning of all sub-units, organizational charts, processes,
activities carried out, job description and requirements
documents, work flow charts, risks, control strategies,
information and communication processes, monitoring and
evaluation mechanisms.
It is aimed to carry out all activities carried out by the Institute in
a correct, fast, effective, efficient and frugal manner with the
understanding of searching, improving and developing the
quality continuously.

9. EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management)
Excellence Model was adopted to the Institute in 2013 in
order to have international standards in all units.
Thus, by adopting a modern management approach that
takes into account the needs and satisfaction of all
stakeholders, it adopted the "EFQM Excellence Model" as a
role model.
A team from Turkish Quality Association has made their on-
site assessment and the Institute has risen to the level of
"EFQM Recognised For Excellence 4 Star" in the process
and was included the “Global Excellence Index” organization
by the EFQM in 2018.
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
EFQM

10. The Institute's Total Quality Management System was created in
2013 to ensure an effective coordination among the Quality
Management, Internal Control System and EFQM Excellence Model
and the system is responsible for ensuring that quality
understanding is settled in all departments and units of the
Institute.
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

11. There are 6 different subject oriented laboratories in the Institute
• Plant and Organic Fertilizer Analysis Laboratory
• Microbial Fertilizer R&D and Culture Collection Center
• Soil Quality and Fertility Analysis Laboratory
• Chemical Fertilizer Laboratory
• Irrigation Water Quality Analysis Laboratory
• Irrigation, Soil Physics and Salinity Laboratory
LABORATORIES

12. LABORATORY ACTIVITIES
→ To authorize and inspect laboratories belonging to the public and
private sector which were authorized by The Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry,
→ To analyze soil, fertilizer and water analyses and to give necessary
advice at international standards within quality assurance,
→ To carry out quality control and standardization of soil analyses
To inspect markets according to "Chemical and Organic Fertilizer Control
Regulation«,
→ To carry out training on laboratory studies nation-wide.

13. 200.000 analysis capacity for 15.000 samples in a year
10.000 soil fertility parameters analysis capacity for 1.000 soil samples
in a month
3.000 soil salinity analysis capacity for at least 200 soil samples in a
month
500 soil physical properties analysis capacity for 100 soil samples in a
month
500 analysis capacity for 100 liquid and solid fertilizers in a month
1.500 analysis capacity for 150 organic materials in a month
5.000 water quality analysis capacity for 500 samples in a month
LABORATORY CAPACITY

14. QC/QA
Quality Assurance (QA) is a proactive quality process. Quality Control (QC),
on the other hand, focuses on finding defects in the product claimed to be
completed. Therefore, Quality Control (QC) is a reactive quality process.

15. STAFF
We have procedure and retain records for selection, training,
supervision, authorization, monitoring competence of personnel.
Laboratory personnel are authorized to development, modification,
verification/validation of methods; analysis, report, review and
authorization of results.

16. FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Our facilities and environmental conditions are suitable for
laboratory activities and not adversely affect the validity of results.
We monitor, control, record environmental conditions where they
influence the validity of the results.
Access to and use of areas affecting laboratory activities, prevention
of contamination, interference, effective separation between areas
with incompatible laboratory activities are monitored and
periodically reviewed.

17. EQUIPMENT
→ The equipment used for measurement is capable of achieving the
measurement uncertainty required to provide a valid result.
→ We calibrate equipment;
• When the measurement accuracy or measurement uncertainty affected
the validity of the reported results
• For establishing the metrological traceability of the reported results
→ The laboratory establishes a calibration programme
→ All equipment requiring calibration are labelled/coded
→ All calibrated equipment have a intermadiate check program

18. METROLOGICAL TRACEABILITY
Metrological traceability is defined as “the property of a measurement
result whereby the result can be related to a reference through a
documented unbroken chain of calibrations, each contributing to the
measurement uncertainty”.
We establish and maintain metrological traceability of results by;
• Calibration provided by acredited laboratory,
• Using certified reference materials provided by acredited producer.

19. SELECTION, VERIFICATION / VALIDATION OF METHODS
→ We use appropriate methods and procedures for all laboratories.
→ All methods and supporting documentation be kept up to date.
→ We verifying properly perform methods before introducing.

20. USE OF REFERENCE MATERIALS OR QUALITY CONTROL MATERIALS
(QC CHARTS)
The method is in control if:
• The control value is within the warning
limits
• The control value is between warning
and action limit and the two previous
control values were within warning
limits
The method is out of control if:
• The control value is outside the action
limits
• Seven control values in consecutive
order gradually increase or decrease
• The control value is between the
warning and the action limit and at
least one of the two previous control
values is also between warning and
action limit
Range-charts
X – charts

21. PARTICIPATION IN PROFICIENCY TESTING AND IN
INTERLABORATORY COMPARISONS OTHER THAN PROFICIENCY
TESTING
The Institute should participate in a Proficiency Test within 48 months
period at least.

22. ALSO, WE ASSURING THE QUALITY OF THE LABORATORY
RESULTS WITH;
• Actions to address risks and opportunities,
• Improvement,
• Corrective actions,
• Internal audits (at least within 12 months period),
• Management reviews (at least within 12 months period)
• Retesting of items
• Correlation of results for different characteristics of an item
• Review of reported results
• Ensuring externally provided products and services confirm to
the laboratory’s established requirements before they are used

23. Thank you for your
attention