The country’s first Metrology in Chemistry Laboratory is set to be inaugurated and to be opened to the public on Nov. 9.
Hundreds of representatives from food and water industry sectors and science communities are expected to attend the launch of the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute’s (DOST-ITDI) four-story MiC Laboratory, which is located in the Science Complex in Bicutan, Taguig City.
Leading the event is DOST Secretary Fortunato T. De La Peña together with DOST-ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez serves as the keynote speaker of the event.
“It took us quite a while, a decade actually, to establish our chemical testing services and house it in one of the most economically vital and heavily invested infrastructures in metrology,” Briones said in a statement on Friday, Nov.5.
The DOST-ITDI said the establishment of the MiC Laboratory was aimed at helping local testing laboratories comply with traceable chemical measurements by producing reference materials (RMs) and conducting accuracy-based Proficiency Testing (PT) schemes.
"What makes RMs valuable is how it supports the results of measurement laboratories to ensure that commodities can pass stringent international trade standards on food quality and control. MiC thus aims to reduce the detention and recall of Philippine products for export,” it said.
Through the new laboratory, highly characterized, authenticated control materials, such as RMs are readily available for food testing.
The MiC team who conceptualized the establishment of the laboratory was led by Dr. Benilda S. Ebarvia.
Ebarvia described as time-consuming chemical testing and production of RMs or referencing, as it requires skills that need to be learned and honed through the years.
“RM development has to be matched with appropriate, state of the art – that means very expensive - equipment. Staff who will be using the equipment and devices have to be trained to use, maintain, and troubleshoot the same.”
The DOST-ITDI noted that to date, most food manufacturers in the country rely on RMs purchased overseas like the US, UK, Japan, China, and Thailand.
It said RMs are expensive, as one material per food product may cost from P15,000 to P30,000.
After developing RMs on trace presence of toxic metals in drinking water (manganese, nickel, cobalt, and iron), benzoic acid in banana catsup, sulfite as a preservative in dried mango, and histamine (a chemical indication of food spoilage) in dried salinas fish, the Institute expressed hope that this year, it will complete the development of 15 RMs on trace presence of pesticides in fresh mango, and other fruits and vegetables; and presence of veterinary drug residues such as salbutamol in pork meat; and 3-Amino-5-morpholino ethyl-2-oxazolidone or AMOZ in fish, among others.
"Early works include RMs on the presence of trace heavy metals in water, such as lead, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc, cobalt, and magnesium. As well, an RM on calcium, a reactive metal in water, was developed. These metals are toxic and noted for their potential toxicity in the environment,” the DOST-ITDI said.
The DOST-ITDI’s creation of the MiC Laboratory sought to cut costs on purchasing RMs abroad by the country’s local food and water industries.
“Further, it aims to ensure that local products pass international trade standards to avoid product recall or detention, a scenario that is too costly and damaging for our economy.”
The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) is keeping an eye on the MiC Laboratory under a five-year program on capabilities enhancement of the National Metrology Laboratory of the Philippines.