IRMM operates an International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP), a Regular European Interlaboratory Measurement Evaluation Programme (REIMEP) for nuclear measurements, an Interlaboratory Measurement Evaluation Programme for Nuclear Signatures in the environment (NUSIMEP), and organises proficiency tests and validation studies.
Many of the interlaboratory comparisons are open to all laboratories that wish to participate but some are restricted to e.g. national reference laboratories or in the case of nuclear measurements to those that are licenced to keep/import radioactive samples. Proficiency test are normally carried out only on request of another Commission department or agency. Some comparisons are run to certify reference materials and validation studies are organised regularly to validate analysis methods.
National and international mutual recognition arrangements, standards or quality systems set the requirements for the reliability of measurement results. Acquiring accreditation is the way for analytical laboratories to demonstrate their technical competence to their customers.
The international measurement evaluation programme (IMEP®) of IRMM enables assessing in how far laboratory accreditation is equivalent across the Member States. IRMM organises these interlaboratory comparisons in close collaboration with the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) and the Directorates-General for Enterprise and for Taxation and Customs Union.
Contrary to most other external quality assessment schemes, participating laboratories in IMEP® can compare their measurement results with independent and traceable reference values obtained by measurements applying the principles of metrology. This also helps chemical laboratories to improve the quality of their measurements.
Various aspects of the interlaboratory comparison can from time to time be subcontracted. When subcontracting occurs, it is placed with a competent subcontractor and the interlaboratory comparison provider is responsible for this work.
On-going comparisons
| Campaign |
Description |
Type |
Participation |
Status |
Reports/Links |
| IMEP-37 |
Pesticides in Grapes |
Measurement Evaluation |
Open to all |
Open |
More |
| IMEP-38 |
Total As, Cd, Pb and Hg in Compound Feed |
Measurement Evaluation |
Open to all |
Open |
More |
| IMEP-117 |
Total As, Cd, Pb and Hg in compound feed |
Measurement Evaluation |
Restricted |
Open |
More |
| Patulin in apple juice |
Analysis of patulin in two naturally contaminated apple juice samples |
Measurement Evaluation |
Restricted |
Open |
EURL Mycotoxins |
| IMEP-39 |
Total Cd, Pb, As, Hg and inorganic As in mushrooms |
Measurement Evaluation |
Open to all |
Ongoing |
More |
|
IMEP-116 |
Total Cd, Pb, As, Hg and inorganic As in mushrooms |
Measurement Evaluation |
Restricted |
Ongoing |
More |
| NUSIMEP-8 |
Low-level uranium and plutonium in synthetic nitrate solution |
Measurement Evaluation |
Open to all |
Open |
More |
| REIMEP-17 |
Plutonium and uranium amount content, and isotope amount ratios in synthetic input solution |
Measurement Evaluation |
Open to all |
Open |
More |
| Fusarium toxins in feed |
Analysis of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins in animal feed |
Method validation |
Open to all |
Ongoing |
EURL Mycotoxins |
| Fusarium toxins in food |
Analysis of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins in baby food |
Method validation |
Open to all |
Ongoing |
EURL Mycotoxins |
| Fusarium toxins in cereals |
Analysis of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cereals |
Method validation |
Open to all |
Ongoing |
EURL Mycotoxins |
Completed campaigns can be found in respective measurement section for:
Interlaboratory Comparisons (ILC's)
ILC's from European Union Reference Laboratories (EU-RLs)
Looking for EURL for feed additives' evaluation reports?
Other Campaigns