Following three previous Collaborating Centre designations, the Radioanalytical Reference Laboratory of the Food and Feed Safety Directorate in Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Office has once again been redesignated for the period 2017 to 2021.
Collaborating Centres are Member State institutions, departments or laboratories that work with the IAEA to implement selected programmatic activities such as the development and practical application of nuclear technology and techniques. To date, the Hungarian laboratory’s work with the IAEA has included the production of reference materials, the training of fellows and scientific visitors in radioanalytical techniques and assistance with water sampling exercises.
“We are extremely pleased to renew this Collaborating Centre agreement,” said David Osborn, Director of the IAEA Environment Laboratories. “Not only is this Centre one of the IAEA’s oldest, but it could be described as a workhorse in the areas of reference material production and training. Reliable reference materials are extremely critical to our research – in fact, it would be impossible to undertake our work without them.”
The main objective of the Collaboration Agreement is to enhance the reliability and comparability of radioanalytical measurement results by providing suitable reference materials for quality control. Good quality reference materials act as measurement yardsticks, which are vital for the validation of scientific tests.
“We are very pleased that the Collaborating Centre has been redesignated because it is important for both the laboratory and Hungary to cooperate internationally in the field of nuclear safety, and for the continuous training and development of professionals working in the laboratory,” said Attila Nagy, Deputy Director of the National Food Chain Safety Office. “For these reasons, it is essential to organize and evaluate round robin tests and comparisons for which the Hungarian laboratory can provide the right scientific expertise and assistance. It is also a continuous opportunity for us and for the Collaborating Centre to develop and test new and future scientific ideas.”
“Since becoming a Collaborating Centre in 2005, the National Food Chain and Safety Office has been a very important partner for the IAEA,” said Aldo Malavasi, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications. “They have prepared, characterized and established new reference materials to aid in quality control and have also conducted multiple feasibility studies and undertaken several training activities. Hungary has emerged as a leader in the field of international science, and the good work done by this Centre in partnership with the IAEA has served to highlight the country’s efficiency in this area.”
By focusing on research, development and training, Collaborating Centres such as Hungary’s help countries reach important targets of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, the IAEA has 31 active Collaborating Centres worldwide.
