International Standards for Food and Fiber Authenticity and Allergen Detection from ISO TC 34/SC 16 Horizontal Methods for Molecular Biomarker Analysis

ISO Technical Committee 34 “Food Products”/Subcommittee 16 “Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis” ensures standardized biomolecular testing methods and laboratory criteria for agriculture, and food production and processing are reproducible and technically sound reducing potential disputes between exporting and importing nations and increasing predictability in world trade. Harmonized, easy to handle specifications, requirements and methods of analysis with defined patterns and known nomenclatures bring more customers to the market. TC 34/SC 16 has increased international stakeholders’ participation in standardizing biomarker testing, improved the quality and relevance of these standards and continues to increase transparency in international markets, particularly for food and fiber authenticity, varietal identification and genetically engineered (GMO) products. ISO standards are adopted by Codex Alimentarius and many governments throughout the world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO.org) is an independent, non-governmental voluntary consensus standard body based in Geneva, Switzerland with a membership of 172 national standards bodies. The US ISO member is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI.org) a consortium of US standardization organizations. ISO TC 34/SC 16 was created in 2008. There are 46 participating countries. Contributing organizations in liaison with TC 34/SC 16 include AOCS, AOAC International, Cereals and Grains Association, the European Commission, the International Seed Testing Association, the US Pharmacopeia, the European Plant Protection Organization, the International Plant Protection Convention and the Global Organic Textile Standard. The scope of TC 34/SC 16 is, "Standardization of biomolecular testing methods applied to foods, feeds, seeds and other propagules of food and feed crops." The US delegation responsible for hosting the international secretariat and developing the US position for standards development in food authenticity and allergen detection was delegated to the American Oil Chemist’s Society (AOCS.org) by ANSI. TC 34/SC 16 has published 39 standards with another 13 under development.