Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524716
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 JULY 2024 NEWS MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 EU law requires national labo- ratories where official testing on matters like food safety are con- ducted, to be accredited based on parameters set by the Interna- tional Organisation for Standard- isation (ISO). Although tests following inter- national protocols are still regu- larly conducted in the laboratory, lack of accreditation is hampering the full implementation of official controls on food safety, a report by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety states. The report based on an audit carried out in January 2024 deals with shortcomings in official controls related to the microbial safety of food of non-animal or- igin. The absence of an accredited national laboratory is listed as one of Malta's main shortcom- ings in this sector. Sources told MaltaToday that although official testing is still being rigorously conducted, the lack of accreditation poses prob- lems at an international level where tests are conducted in the certainty offered by accredita- tion. In its reply to the audit, the gov- ernment has committed itself to present a plan to relocate the laboratory from Evans Building - now earmarked for a hotel - to a more suitable premises by the end of the year. Moreover, the authorities are also working to obtain accredita- tion within the current premises and have committed themselves to finalise an "outline of require- ments to regain accreditation" by the end of the third quarter of 2024. In the meantime, the authorities are also working to seek a 'proxy' representative for the National Laboratory until the laboratory is again accredited. The Public Health Laboratory currently consists of two main sections, namely chemistry and microbiology laboratories. The laboratory performs offi- cial testing on food, animal feed and hygiene testing as well as the investigation of suspected food poisoning and food poisoning outbreaks, food and environmen- tal surveillance and food authen- ticity investigations. The PHL is also the national reference labo- ratory for biological parameters like Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli and Legionella amongst other sources of microbiological contamination. The FVO report acknowledges that even without accreditation the laboratory still operates "a quality management system in compliance with ISO 17025 re- quirements". But according to the report the accreditation of the Public Health Laboratory is required "in order to ensure sound and relia- ble results". Accreditation of national laboratory suspended due to structural deficiencies in Evans Building CABINET members approve of Prime Minister Robert Ab- ela's decision to nominate his former chief of staff Glenn Micallef to the role of Europe- an Commissioner. Micallef was Abela's second choice for the top EU job, af- ter a court ruled Chris Fearne should stand trial in the Vi- tals corruption case. The nomination stands out given Micallef's lack of political ex- perience, as it is a long-held tradition that member states nominate former or current politicians. On Tuesday, ministers were asked to give their opinion on whether they agree with Abela's pick for the influen- tial role as they entered Cas- tille for a Cabinet meeting. All Cabinet members toed the party line and approved of Micallef's nomination. Their responses varied however when asked wheth- er they were interested in the role themselves. MaltaToday had reported that ministers Miriam Dalli, Clyde Caruana and Ian Borg, who at some stage were be- ing considered as potential nominees, had indicated they were not interested in the post. When Dalli was asked about her interest, she said that, "it was something that is decid- ed by the Prime Minister." Similarly, other members of Cabinet told journalists that they had no interest in the role. Interestingly, Transport Minister Chris Bonett chuck- led at the idea of him being interested, adding, "I've only started working in Cabinet. How could I have that aspi- ration?" Cabinet members agree with Robert Abela's pick for Malta's next EU Commissioner Despite Glenn Micallef 's lack of executive and political experience, ministers say they agree with his nomination as Malta's next European Commissioner The government has committed itself to present a plan to relocate the laboratory from Evans Building - now earmarked for a hotel - to a more suitable premises by the end of the year Although tests following international protocols are still regularly conducted in the laboratory, lack of accreditation is hampering the full implementation of official controls on food safety