The committee focuses on developing and updating chemical, microbiological, and sensory methods and procedures for food analysis. Additionally, NordVal International, which certifies alternative methods, operates under NMKL.
Estonia is represented in all NMKL working groups. Lauri Jalukse, head of the LABRIS chemistry department, is involved in both the chemistry working group and NordVal International. In the field of microbiology, LABRIS is represented by Kristjan Soo (leading specialist in the microbiology department), Maiu Kuningas (head of the microbiology department), and Toomas Kramarenko (deputy director for food and feed safety), who also serves as the vice-chair of the working group. Helen Vaikma from TFTAK represents Estonia in the sensory analysis working group. Estonia’s active participation in NMKL's work is highly valued.
In the microbiology working group, Toomas gave a presentation on the June meeting of ISO’s permanent committee SC9 (microbiological methods for food) and the developments in ISO methods. Kristjan’s presentation covered listeria inoculation tests conducted on caviar (Siberian sturgeon roe) and the results obtained.
Lauri delivered two presentations. The first detailed his experiences and first-time participation in the Codex Alimentarius committee meeting on analytical methods and sampling (CCMAS) this spring. His second presentation focused on algorithms for estimating the probability of binary data.
During the meeting, Janne Nieminen was elected as the new NMKL president, and Mirja Hokkanen, both from Finland's Ruokavirasto, will lead the chemistry working group for the next two years.
The next NMKL meeting will be held in Estonia, in Tartu, from September 14–17, 2025. Preparations are already underway.
Additional information:
Lauri Jalukse
Head of chemistry department
tel 738 6110
email [email protected]
