Pepper News

Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam - In response to the serious quality issues faced by the pepper industry in recent years, International Pepper Community partnering with Eurofins Netherland, Eurofins Viet Nam, Vietnam Pepper Association as well as IDH-the Sustainable Trade Initiative, organized Technical Training on Testing Method for Laboratory Personnel during the 18 - 19 June 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. The initiative for the Technical Training had begun at the 24th Meeting of the IPC on Quality last year which led to IPC collaboration with Eurofins as Technical Partner.

International Pepper Community's collaboration with Eurofins as the Technical Partner and IDH-the Sustainable Trade Initiative as the sponsor ensured the success of the Technical Training Programme. This Technical Training is inline with IDH-the Sustainable Trade Initiative approach to drive sustainability from niche to norm in mainstream market. Whereas, Eurofins, as the world leader in food, environment and pharmaceutical product testing, imparted its years of expertise and experience in Laboratory Testing Method.

This two-days training which was led by Dr. Hans van der Moolen from Eurofins Netherlands as the sole lecturer, was opened by the Executive Director of International Pepper Community, Mrs. Hoang Thi Lien. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Lien expected that the IPC Technical Training on Method of Analysis for Laboratory Personnel be the stepping stone to the quality advancement for the pepper industry. She pointed out the importance of enhancing the capacity and capability of laboratory so as adhering to the international standard. She thanked Eurofins Netherland, Eurofins Viet Nam, Vietnam Pepper Association and IDH-the Sustainable Trade Initiative for their support towards IPC's programmes.

Dr. Hans van der Moolen holds a PhD degree from University of Amsterdam majoring in Analytical Chemistry and has more than 20 years of experience in the Analytical Testing industry. He had been involved in several experts programmes on Mycotoxins and edible oils, different kinds of technical and quality assurance projects as well as responsible for laboratory and quality system setting up, quality system implementation, control and auditing. Furthermore, he founded and set up NofaLab B.V in 2004, set up Eurofins Food Testing Barendrecht in 2007/2008. Aside from recognized as member of Eurofins Food Quality Assurance Management Core Team he is also an advisor for the Almond Board of California.

With a total of 20 experts laboratories personnel from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam participating, this Technical Training brought about the topic of methods of analyzing pesticide residue in pepper/pepper products, determination of residue in pepper/pepper product, analysis of Mycotoxin in pepper/pepper product and also Good Laboratories Practices Standards. This extensive Technical Training programmes utilized the comprehensive Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang Laboratory owned by Eurofins Viet Nam located in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City.