ISO to cooperate with AOAC on infant formula standards

Under the agreement, which was signed by ISO secretary general Rob Steele and AOAC executive director James Bradford, Switzerland-based ISO and AOAC will participate in each other’s work to jointly develop and approve standards.

ISO and AOAC will initially focus on cooperation in the areas of infant formula, adult nutritional and related milk and milk products.

The pact follows a request from members of the AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) to create ISO standards to mirror those formed by the Panel.

“This agreement came as a result of a request from the dairy industry and shareholders, including Fonterra and Nestlé, who were involved in the SPIFAN scheme – a programme run by AOAC,” ​ISO technical group manager Marie-Noёlle Bourquin told DairyReporter.com.

Industry standard duplication​

SPIFAN, which also boasts Abbott Nutrition, Mead Johnson and Danone as stakeholders, was established to develop standard performance requirements for priority nutrients in infant formula and adult nutritionals.

According to ISO, the agreement will boost the impact of both organisations through the promotion and adoption of common methods in the area of infant formula and adult nutrition.

“These stakeholders wanted us to create an ISO standard to match this,” ​added Bourquin.

“They wanted a unique standard. Through this we can come together and produce better results. We can save money, time and avoid duplication.”​

According to the AOAC, the agreement will reinforce the global reputation of both organisations

AOAC executive director James Bradford, who signed the agreement on behalf of the US-based firm, added that ISO will become an “important partner”​ through the agreement.

“The new agreement underscores that ISO and AOAC share an effective and efficient approach in development of international standards,” ​he said.

IDF collaboration​

The agreement will also involve collaboration with the International Dairy Federation (IDF) relating to its existing work with ISO on methods or analysis and sampling for milk and milk products.

“IDF has a strategic objective to foster mutually beneficial relationships with other organisations and has actively supported the efforts of ISO and AOAC to collaborate. IDF is looking forward to collaborating with AOAC and ISO in the development of methods of analysis for infant formula,”​ said IDF president Richard Doyle.