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Criteria for Approval Export Wine Test Methods

7. Operational Guidance

7.1 Purpose of NZFSA export test method approval

NZFSA needs to have confidence in any test results produced to support official assurances made by the New Zealand government on NZFSA certificates.

Where the importing country’s legislation prescribes the test methods for analysis NZFSA must be confident that the appropriate method is used.

Analysis of wine may also occur to check compliance with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, should this be required.

Approval of export test methods, based on agreed criteria, is one tool that NZFSA can use to ensure that any results produced by a laboratory are robust and credible. The approval of export wine test methods by NZFSA will become particularly important if there is a recall or complaint about a batch of wine.

If a laboratory acting as a NZFSA-recognised agency for the analysis of wine is contracted to test wine for a winemaker, then that winemaker can have confidence in any test results generated from a NZFSA-approved test.

The approval process also ensures that export test methods used for analysis by NZFSA recognised laboratories are either published by credible international sources or are characterised to demonstrate fitness for purpose.

7.2 Criteria for approval of export wine test methods

7.2.1 Approval of export wine test methods

NZFSA approval is required for any export test method used for testing conformance with:

a. the Wine Act 2003;

b. NZFSA standards and specifications;

c. Or, official assurances provided by NZFSA.

NZFSA will only accept results from a recognised laboratory using an export method approved for the specific purpose when assessing whether a wine complies with the above.

The laboratory manager is responsible for demonstrating that the test method is fit for purpose.

7.3 Export test method approval

7.3.1 Generally export test approved methods

Export test methods from the following sources are usually approved by NZFSA, provided they are used within their scope and are unmodified and where relevant meet any legislative requirements of the importing country.

a. international standards, e.g. ISO, Codex; or

b. methods published in reputable international texts, e.g. Standard methods published by AOAC Official Methods of Analysis, “Pearson’s Chemical Analysis of Foods”; or

c. national or regional standards or legislation, e.g. New Zealand Standards, Australian Standards, British Standards, Euronorm Standards, EU legislation.

These methods are subjected to the assessment criteria outlined in Section 8.4 and approval is based on the recommendation of the accreditation body.

7.3.2 Other export test methods

Export test methods from the following sources may be approved by NZFSA. These methods are characterised (refer Section 7.3.3 below) and subjected to the assessment criteria outlined in Section 8.3:

a. refereed scientific journals;

b. in-house test methods;

c. other sources; e.g. test methods involving new technology. These methods normally come from instrument manufacturer’s instructions and technical publications.

d. generally export test approved methods (refer section 7.3.1 above) used outside their scope and/or modified; and

e. NZFSA-approved export test methods used outside their scope and/or modified.

7.3.3 Characterisation of export test methods

The applicant nominates and uses a suitable standard or code to characterise the export test method. The nominated standard or code specifies the principles and process being used and is demonstrated to be appropriate for the purpose.

The standard or code may be obtained from:

a. international standards and guidelines;

b. national and regional standards;

c. reputable scientific publications or organisations; or

d. an NZFSA-approved code of practice.

In the absence of a suitable standard or code, then the export test method is characterised using acceptable scientific principles and practices.

The characteristics listed below must be determined for each export test method. In some situations, e.g. residue analyses, additional characteristics may be required.

e. Method performance characteristics required for continuous methods

Continuous methods produce results that are expressed as numbers.

The following characteristics are required for continuous methods, where applicable (if not applicable, please include a reason why):

i. bias;

ii. precision (reproducibility or intermediate precision);

iii. limit of detection; and

iv. range.

The export test method must be characterised across the testing range.

Note: For a test method to be approved for EU testing characterisation must demonstrate that the method has accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility of results at least equivalent to the EC reference methods. See Appendix 1 for more information on the EU requirements.

f. Method characteristics required for nominal methods

Nominal methods only report the presence or absence of something.

The following characteristics are required for nominal methods, where applicable (if not applicable, please include a reason why):

i. specificity rate (this may vary according to the level of analyte present);

ii. sensitivity rate (this may vary according to the level of analyte present); and

iii. limit of detection.

The test method must be characterised across the testing range.