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AOAC INTERNATIONAL
TERMS OF REFERENCE
DRAFT
(6-24-04)
I. NAME:
Presidential Task Force on Agricultural Materials
II. MISSION:
Establish an AOAC Agricultural Materials Community and infrastructure to meet the community’s analytical method needs. Agricultural materials will include, but not be limited to, feeds, plant nutrients, veterinary diagnostics, and veterinary drug residues. Provide other quality tools to serve the community’s need for worldwide confidence in analytical results.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Engage community representatives from federal and state governments, industry, academia, trade groups and international organizations in consensus building for appropriate methodology for the Agricultural Materials Community. Ensure active participation through scheduled face-to-face and virtual meetings and activities.
- Determine priority agricultural methods needs of the community, form sub-groups to address those needs, and take a leadership role in directing and steering the work of sub-groups to ensure the results meet analytical method needs of the community and that buy-in and acceptance of decisions is done by consensus of the group.
The charge of the subgroups will include, but not be limited to a) determining method priority areas of the group based on criteria determined by the group; b) defining criteria required of the method; c) soliciting and reviewing available methods in priority areas; d) forming Expert Review Panels to develop criteria for selection of best methods based on fit-for-purpose and performance characteristics; and, e) recommending best methods as determined by the ERP for further validation.
- Resolve any issues brought before the Task Group by the sub-groups and ensure work of sub-groups is transparent and communicated.
- Participate or solicit participation in validating appropriate methodology through AOAC methods validation programs. This may include method review, identification of potential study directors and participating laboratories, and sample identification and acquisition.
- Identify financial and in-kind support to validate agricultural methods chosen for further validation.
- Determine other quality tools for the community such as training courses and help in implementing necessary funding and infrastructure to provide those quality tools.
- The Task Force will meet face-to-face at the AOAC INTERNATIONAL Annual Meeting, in addition to other meetings, which may be scheduled from time to time. Task Force will identify other meeting forums where the work of the Task Force or a sub-group of the Task Force can be furthered.
- All Task Force members serve at the pleasure of the President. All Task Force members are expected to actively participate in the work of the Task Force; including, but not limited to, promptly responding to communications, attending and actively participating in meetings, reviewing meeting background materials and agendas prior to meetings, and accepting and following through on assignments. Persons who do not actively participate will be removed from the Task Force by the President at the request of the chair.
IV. COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION:
The Chair of the Task Force is appointed by the President of AOAC. The Chair shall appoint Task Force members.
The Task Force shall consist of a Chair and a minimum of 2 members from each sub-group who shall be voting members. A quorum will be declared if, in addition to the Chair, one half (1/2) of the voting members are present. The meetings of the Task Force and sub-groups will be open to all interested parties.
The Chair and members of the Task Force will be members of AOAC. The Chair will serve until the mission of the Task Force has been completed, at which time the Task Force will retire. If unable to continue service, the Chair will suggest a replacement from within the Task Force subject to the approval by the President.
Each voting member will be appointed for a two-year term, which may be renewed at the Chair’s discretion. The Task Force shall represent, insofar as possible, all appropriate sectors from the agricultural community. The Task Force will be composed of members representing a balance of government (no more than 2 members from the same agency), industry, and academia as appropriate to the scope of the Task Force. No more than one half of the voting members can be from industry.
Sub-group chairs will nominate members to a sub-group for appointment by the Task Force Chair.
V. STAFF LIAISON:
The Executive Director shall assign a member of the staff to serve as staff liaison.
VI. REVIEW SCHEDULE:
Every three years
VII. DATE ESTABLISHED:
December 2003
VIII. DATES REVISED:
May 2004
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