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| AOAC's Organizational Affiliates: Developing and Sustaining Industry Engagement Industry engagement of AOAC Organizational Affiliates (OAs) is critical in helping to shape the Association’s position on standardization and problem-solving activities in the food, beverage, dietary supplements, and other industries Industry stakeholders can help identify market needs and areas of standardization that they believe will lead to the facilitation of trade and communication through science-based solutions. As such, AOAC realizes that knowing the needs and interests of stakeholders is important to develop processes and standards that will foster growth and a level playing field for industry. Disputes can be avoided if standardized analytical methods and other quality measurement programs are in place. Clearly, industry engagement in action has become a highlight of the AOAC Board of Directors meetings, as OAs now link their quarterly conference calls and updates to coincide with the meetings. According to Ron Johnson, AOAC Director-at-Large and OA representative from bioMérieux, Inc., “The purpose of tying these meetings together is to engage critical stakeholders directly with the AOAC Board to help shape and develop solutions for AOAC analytical communities. This approach is broadening input to the Board and is taking into account the views of all of the Organizational Affiliates.” AOAC OAs are a cross-sector group representing food and beverage, dietary supplements, government agencies, and test kit manufacturers. AOAC established the OA program to promote the development of consensus standards for analytical communities. The program is designed for organizations seeking the highest level of engagement and involvement in AOAC INTERNATIONAL. With this program, information flows directly from the supporting organization to the highest levels of AOAC. OAs benefit from direct involvement in, and impact on, the strategic direction of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, through participation at invitation-only meetings and forums; increased opportunities for engagement with, and direct access to, AOAC leadership and senior staff; and much much more. Here, let’s take a look at the OAs’ current areas of interest and/or issues relative to AOAC activities (as presented in a conference call chaired by Johnson, followed by an OA report at the Board of Directors meeting in December 2007). Food/Beverage Industries One OA presented some focus areas including LC/MS/MS and rapid and multi-analyte methods. This OA organization would support a move toward validation work in functional foods. There is also a concern about raw materials from Asia. Another company is interested in engaging AOAC to validate 20 methods for infant formulas and sports drinks. Collaborative studies would be scheduled for the next couple of years. Dietary Supplement Industry The AOAC Presidential Task Force on Dietary Supplements (PTFDS) has discussed changing its name to include functional foods. Barry Titlow of Compound Solutions and chair of the PTFDS commented that it is important for companies participating in AOAC collaborative efforts to let others within their company know about their participation and the significance of their accomplishments. Due to the need to have validated methods for an ever-expanding array of matrixes, the PTFDS has agreed that there must be a defined starting point for drawing up a plan for method validation. It is also important to reach out to the OAs and determine what the next priority might be. A beverage company agreed that the more dietary supplements with validated testing methods the better, due to new product lines incorporating added supplements to drinks. Government Agencies The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is interested in establishing a definition for dietary fiber, banned drug residues in fish and seafood, and the development of new allergen kits. At Health Canada, current interests include developing food safety initiatives, including safety of imported foods and raw materials, detection of illegal residues, more scrutiny on foods that are produced provincially, allergens, natural toxins, mycotoxins, environmental contaminants, and adherence to the Chemical Management Plan, an improved methodologies for food contact chemicals. Another focus for both Canadian agencies is persistent organic pollutants. Allergen and analytical communities initiatives are still underway. The draft document has received a great deal of attention; a prepared draft for the analytical community is planned for the near future. AOAC Executive Director James Bradford suggested that both Health Canada and CFIA should be added to the seafood community initiatives. Test Kit Manufacturers One company is interested in harmonization of methods, especially global methods. There is a concern that only one General Referee per Methods Committee may pose a potential problem with regard to moving methods through the AOAC validation and approval processes. Conclusion Through quarterly conference calls, scheduled to coincide with AOAC Board meetings, the OAs will continue their efforts to sustain and develop new OA stakeholders--a key to helping solve analytical challenges faced by industry. In addition, the restructuring of the Official Methods Board will also be addressed as part of future OA conference calls. For more information on the Organizational Affiliate program, contact Dawn Frazier at dfrazier@aoac.org or Anita Mishra at amishra@aoac.org. To view the list of AOAC’s Organizational Affiliates, please click here. Meetings and Conference Calls in 2008 Future conference calls for Organizational Affiliates will be scheduled to coincide with AOAC Board of Directors meetings. The next conference call will be announced 1 month in advance. Upcoming Board meetings are scheduled for:
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