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Laboratory achieves

OECD GLP compliance

Landbouleier

sterf onverwags

T

he Southern African Grain Laboratory (SAGL)’s Crop Pro­

tection test facility achieved OECD Good Laboratory Prac­

tice compliance during July last year. This means that results

of studies conducted at the facility can be accepted by

other countries.

What is the OECD?

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD), with 35 member countries, focuses on global economic de­

velopment and assists the governments to respond to social, eco­

nomic and scientific issues. South Africa is a key partner of the OECD

since 2007.

The Mutual Acceptance of Data system, developed by the OECD, is

an agreement signed by the participating countries and key partners

to share the results of various studies on chemicals to reduce dupli­

cative testing and allows countries to work together.

These studies must be conducted according to the OECD Princip­

les of Good Laboratory Practice. The aim of the OECD principles

is to create a level playing field for participating countries involved

in import and export of chemicals to minimise the effects of non-

tariff barriers between these countries.

Good Laboratory Practice according to the principles of OECD is the

quality system prescribing the conditions under which non-clinical

health and environmental safety studies are planned, performed,

monitored, recorded, archived and reported.

When an OECD Good Laboratory Practice study is conducted the

focus areas include record keeping, traceability to prevent fraud,

and verification of the obtained results to ensure that, if needed, the

study can be reconstructed.

Unique to the OECD Good Laboratory Practice principles are the

monitoring of the testing facility, including the storage area and pre­

vention of contamination, and testing processes according to the

study plans. Also unique are the availability of master schedules

for all the studies conducted at the facility and the recording and

archiving of test results.

ISO accreditation

To enhance the technical competence in the SAGL Crop Protection

Division, the laboratory also obtained ISO 17025 accreditation. Part

of achieving and maintaining ISO 17025 accreditation is the continu­

ous proof of technical competency, including method validations,

and international comparability and traceability to international

standards through the participation in international proficiency

schemes.

The Crop Protection Division also ensures that their staff members

stay up to date with local and international regulatory and techni­

cal requirements and support international guidance documents

through their international involvement.

Currently the division is performing OECD Good Laboratory Prac­

tice studies for international companies as well as companies in

South Africa that want to register and export products to other coun­

tries that require OECD Good Laboratory Practice studies.

Excellence is not only in having a result or a report to submit to the

authorities, but to know that the results reported is accurate and

the report is a true reflection of the study conducted.

M

nr Schalk Pienaar, voorsitter van Agbiz en voorma­

lige besturende direkteur van Suidwes Landbou, is op

6 Mei in sy woning op Hartbeespoort aan ‘n hartaanval

oorlede. Hy was 68 jaar oud.

Dr John Purchase, uitvoerende hoof: Agbiz,

sê Pienaar sal nie alleen deur Agbiz en sy

lede gemis word nie, maar ook deur die

hele landbou- en landbousakegemeen­

skap vir sy wyse raad en opbouende

bydrae oor dekades heen in ver­

skeie leiersposisies in die landbou­

bedryf. Pienaar was sedert 2010

die voorsitter van Agbiz.

In ‘n mediavrystelling sê Suidwes Landbou dat Pienaar onthou sal

word vir sy groot rol wat hy gespeel en die verskil wat hy in die

Suid-Afrikaanse landbousektor gemaak het. Hy was hoofbestuur­

der van Suidwes se graanafdeling, voordat hy van 2001 tot 2012 die

pos van besturende direkteur van die Suidwes Groep beklee het.

Mnr Francois Wilken, voorsitter van Vrystaat Landbou, het in ‘n

huldeblyk gesê landbou het ‘n groot leier verloor. Pienaar het

van 2012 tot 2016 in die uitvoerende bestuur van Vrystaat Land-

bou gedien.

In hul huldeblyk het Agri SA gesê Pienaar was ‘n leidende figuur

in landbou en het ‘n groot rol daarin gespeel om georganiseerde

landbou uit te bou en te verstewig.

relevant

Wiana Louw,

general manager, SAGL

Karina Muller,

SA Graan/Grain

medewerker

Wyle Schalk Pienaar.

Foto: Agbiz

77

June 2018