MicroVal: a European approach to the certification of new microbiological methods

Reference methods, such as those published by ISO (International Standards Organisation), are often laborious, expensive, and time consuming. More convenient, cheaper and more rapid methods are therefore often preferred for daily use. However, results obtained with such methods should be accepted by official control laboratories and trade partners, MicroVal, a European project for the validation and approval of alternative methods for the microbiological analysis of food and beverages, was set up to achieve this. A description is given of MicroVal. The general rules and certification procedures are described, as well as how the certification is organised. MicroVal aims at certifying alternative methods, i.e. methods which perform as well as internationally standardised methods. Whenever possible, an ISO standard method is used as the reference. Certification of alternative methods should ensure their acceptance by governmental inspection laboratories and laboratories in the food trade, thus facilitating commerce within the European Union.