scope:

This Technical Specification gives requirements and guidance for the organization of proficiency testing schemes for microbiological examinations of:

a) food and beverages;

b) animal feeding stuffs;

c) food production environments and food handling;

d) primary production stages.

This Technical Specification is also potentially applicable to the microbiological examination of water where water is either used in food production or is regarded as a food in national legislation.

This Technical Specification relates to the technical organization and the implementation of proficiency testing schemes, as well as the statistical treatment of the results of microbiological examinations.

This Technical Specification is designed for use with ISO/IEC 17043 and ISO 13528, and deals only with areas where specific or additional details are necessary for proficiency testing schemes dealing with microbiological analyses for the areas specified in the first paragraph.