The publication of two new International Standards for verifying compliance of infant formula and formulas for special medical purposes with labelling regulations for nutrients provide a new inter-laboratory validated analytical technique.
The two new standards are:
- ISO 20635, Infant formula and adult nutritionals – Determination of vitamin C by (ultra) high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection ((U)HPLC-UV); and
- ISO 20636, Infant formula and adult nutritionals – Determination of vitamin D by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
ISO 20635 and ISO 20636 are test method standards in support of the international Codex standard for infant formula and formulas for special medical purposes intended for infants. Both stadards can be used as reference methods for dispute resolutions.
Erik Konings, Convenor of the working group that developed the standards, said they will be of use to regulators, commercial laboratories, and manufacturers of infant formula and milk products.
“These standards provide an effective way of demonstrating compliance with national and international regulations as they represent a globally harmonized method of testing, in line with other standards-developing organizations in the sector, such as AOAC INTERNATIONAL and the International Dairy Federation,” Konings said.
“[The standards] were developed as there were no completely internationally agreed and harmonized standards of this kind and will thus help to ensure the safety and quality of products for consumers as well as facilitating their trade on the global market.”
ISO 20635 and ISO 20636 are just two in a series of ISO International Standards that have been developed as part of the Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals project managed by AOAC INTERNATIONAL in cooperation with ISO and the International Dairy Federation. The project aims to develop standard method performance requirements and methods of analysis for 20 or more priority nutrients in infant formula and adult nutritionals.