Bandar Seri Begawan - The Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar yesterday handed over an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 certificate to the Veterinary Laboratory Services Unit, Division of Livestock Industry, at the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood.

Veterinary Laboratory Services play an important role in supporting the development of the livestock industry. Work programmes in inspection and laboratory analysis is consistent with the programmes implemented by the units within the Livestock Industry Division towards improving overall production.

Such support services for these programmes include treatment of animals and handling of animals health, strategic planning in animal disease control, monitoring of animal health and disease control, monitoring of animal feed and nutrition, recognition and declaration of disease free status, quality control of livestock product, national programme for monitoring and control of salmonella, monitoring of avian influenza, and monitoring the use of veterinary drugs.

The implementation of these programmes are consistent and in line with the role and function of the department to fulfill the objective of improving food security and food safety in Brunei. ISO/IEC accreditation was given to 13 laboratory tests. ISO/IEC 17025:2005 was originally known as ISO/IEC Guide 25. This standard was initially issued by the International Organisation Standard for Standardisation in 1999.

The standard is similar to the ISO 9000 standard but with the addition of staff competency.

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is an international standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. The standard consists of two sections - management requirements and technical requirements. Management requirements focus mainly on the operation and effectiveness of the laboratory quality management system. The technical requirements include factors which determine the validity and reliability of the test method, laboratory analysis results and staff competency.

The Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) is the accreditation body chosen by Veterinary Laboratory Services, Department of Agriculture and Agrifood for the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation.

By implementing ISO/IEC 17025:2005 as part of laboratory quality initiatives, both laboratory and businesses benefit from international recognition of its technical competence, gain the confidence of customers and interested parties, and open doors to new markets internationally and to facilitate export oriented activities.

Presenting the certificate to the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources was the Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei Darusslam, Jaya Ratnam.

Also in attendance from the ministry were the Permanent Secretary, Dyg Hjh Normah Suria Hayati bte PJDSMDSU (Dr) Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Primary, Resources Development), Dyg Hjh Hasnah bte Ibrahim; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Entrepreneurship Development), Awg Mohd Riza bin Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunos; Acting Director of Agriculture and Agrifood, Hjh Aidah Hj Mohd Hanifah; and senior officers.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin