Press corner

The JRC-IRMM has developed three new methods to detect an illegal clouding agent which can be found in sports drinks imported from Taiwan. In late May, the Taiwanese authorities informed the European Commission that significant amounts of phthalates were illegally added to certain categories of sports drinks. These chemicals are believed to affect reproductive performance and fertility, and have been linked to developmental problems with children.

News release[27Kb]

First certified reference material for real-world nanoparticle size analysis - 18 February 2011

The JRC's Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) has developed the world's first certified nanoparticle reference material based on industry-sourced nanoparticles. This new material will help ensure the comparability of measurements worldwide, thereby facilitating trade, ensuring compliance with legislation.

News release[157Kb]

A new study which benchmarks the abilities of laboratories around the world to measure heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, methylmercury and inorganic arsenic) in seafood has been published today by the Joint Research Centre. The outcome of the exercise was generally positive, with 80 to 96% of laboratories obtaining satisfactory scores, depending on the heavy metal considered.

News release[184Kb]

New research facility will contribute to reliable measurements and testing throughout Europe - 23 November 2010

On 23 November, a new scientific facility to develop measurement standards in challenging areas such as life sciences was inaugurated at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in Geel, Belgium. The Flemish Minister-President, Kris Peeters, and the European Commission's Director-General for Enterprise and Industry, Heinz Zourek, performed the ribbon-cutting.

European Commission press release: English[14Kb], Deutsch[16Kb], français[17Kb]

First graduates of Master's degree "Measurement Science in Chemistry - 26 October 2010

The first group of graduates of a new European Master's degree received their diplomas today at the JRC's Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) in Geel, Belgium. The degree, "Measurement Science in Chemistry", was based on training initiatives developed by JRC-IRMM.

News release[61Kb]

 Food allergies: the enemy within - 3 July 2010

Allergy to peanut is one of the most common food allergies in the UK, but surprisingly unknown in Greece. The EU-funded four-year project, EuroPrevall, has shown that the triggers of food allergy vary greatly from country to country, findings that have important implications for people with food allergies, the food industry and society as a whole.

(Joint press release with the Institute for Food Research, UK, on the occasion of the EuroScience Open Forum 2010.)

News release[50Kb]

Nuclear physics unveils secrets of Bronze Age sword - 25 February 2010

Physicists at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) have helped unveil the secrets of a Bronze Age sword with neutron beams normally used to study materials for nuclear reactors. The work was carried out by a team of European researchers investigating the application of modern scientific methods to cultural heritage objects.

News release[104Kb]

JRC-IRMM method to detect chocolate fraud becomes an international standard - 4 December 2009

A method developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) to measure vegetable fats in milk chocolate has become the first such method to be adopted as an international standard by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). It has been developed to enable the enforcement of the so-called Chocolate Directive, which stipulates that European chocolate must not contain more than 5% vegetable fats, other than cocoa butter.

News release[173Kb]

Contaminated sunflower oil: testing labs measure up - 13 July 2009

Following the discovery of contaminated sunflower oil imported from Ukraine in April 2008, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has tested 55 analytical laboratories from 17 EU Member States plus Switzerland and Ukraine to determine their capability to measure levels of the contaminant - mineral oil - in sunflower oil. The test results are now available and show that around 80% of laboratories performed satisfactorily.

News release[33Kb]

Detecting melamine in food: world's labs are ready and able - 8 May 2009

According to a worldwide study by the EC's Joint Research Centre, the majority of laboratories tested are able to accurately measure levels of the harmful substance melamine in food. Dr. Alejandro Herrero, Director of the JRC's Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), commented: "This international study is one of the first and largest snapshots of labs' abilities to accurately measure melamine in food, and it confirms that the majority of labs are up to the job".

News release [38Kb]

JRC-IRMM and KRISS sign cooperation agreement - 2 March 2009

A Collaboration Agreement signed today between the JRC Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) aims to advance measurement science and foster greater confidence in the comparability of international measurements. Areas covered will range from bioanalysis (DNA measurements) and radionuclide metrology (environmental measurements), to food control and mechanical testing (e.g. toughness of steel).

News release [37Kb]

New collaboration agreement with CEA signed - 20 June 2008

A new collaboration agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community, represented by JRC-IRMM, and the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA, FR) will significantly advance cooperative research in domains of common interest: high level nuclear waste minimization and management, safety of advanced reactor concepts and fuel cycles and issues in basic nuclear science.

News release [49Kb]

IRMM receives ISO certification

Today, 14 March, 2008 in Geel, Belgium, the IRMM was awarded a triple integrated International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification (ISO 9001/ISO 14001/OHSAS 18001). The inspections were performed by TÜV NORD CERT (Germany).

JRC News release[36Kb]

Ceremony at IRMM, 14 March in Geel, Belgium. - Photo[577Kb] (copyright European Commission 2007)

A new collaboration agreement signed - 17 December 2007

... between the JRC Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements and the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA).

JRC News release[37Kb]

Dr Herrero (JRC-IRMM) and Dr May (CSTL/NIST) signed a collaboration agreement between the two organisations on 17 December 2007 in Geel, Belgium. - Photo[1470Kb] (copyright European Commission 2007)

New measurement standard will raise quality of GMO testing - 6 December 2007

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) works continuously to improve both reliability and comparability of laboratory testing results. The IRMM has now introduced a new set of reference materials for testing maize line MON 810 genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed samples by control laboratories.

JRC News release

Archive of news releases

Eurolab and IRMM cooperate, 11 September 2007 - News release [69Kb]

New low sulfur European reference materials for petrol, 11 June 2007 - News release[46Kb]

Opening of three new Community Reference Laboratories, 16 March 2007 - Press release (EN, FR, DE, EL)

New reference materials for testing genetically modified cotton and sugar beet, 18 December 2006 - News release

Inauguration of SENARC in Slovenia, 15 December 2006 - Western Balkans get new scientific centre to support take-up of EU legislation - Press release (EN, FR, DE, SL)

Collaboration agreement between XIOS and IRMM, 28 June 2006 - News release[77Kb]

IRMM en XIOS slaan handen in elkaar - Persmededeling[77Kb]

Collaboration agreement between VITO and IRMM, 17 March 2006 - News release[61Kb]

Samenwerkingsovereenkomst tussen IRMM en VITO, 17 maart 2006 - Persbericht[77Kb]

Ancient Charm Project - News release,12 December 2005[198Kb]

Ancient Charm - Comunicato stampa, 12 December 2005[202Kb]

Inauguration of the new reference materials storage building, 20 October 2005 - Press release

Launch of ERM^® at Analytica fair in 2004[89Kb]

Launch of ERM^® at Pittcon exposition and conference in 2005[154Kb]

Community Reference Laboratory for Feed Additives Authorisation - official opening, 9 November 2004 - Press release[23Kb]

Material available

• short video on reference materials production (mpeg1&2, beta)

• video on storage and distribution of reference materials in compressed format[4Kb]

• leaflets

• see the publications section