T
he CBRA Laboratory of ABRAPA in Brazil has become the 12th laboratory to be certified under ICA Bremen’s ‘International Laboratory Certification Scheme’.
CBRA ABRAPA’s Program Manager, Edson Tetsuji Mizoguchi said “We chose this certification for the Brazilian Reference Center for Cotton Testing (CBRA) by ICA Bremen as a priority due to the reputation of this institution, the most important of its kind. This achievement is evidence that we are on the right path. By having the quality of CBRA endorsed by ICA Bremen, this places us among the best in the world and we are aware we belong to a very distinguished group”.
Based in Brasília, the CBRA Laboratory of ABRAPA was established in 2016 with clear, defined functions that it conducts a CBRA Check Sample Programme, Cotton Re-test Programme, Brazilian Round Trials Programme and Brazilian In-house Verification Cotton Programme. Specifically, for the above purpose, the Laboratory is striving to uphold a high standard of testing and continuously improve its quality assurance management.
The CBRA Laboratory of ABRAPA now join eleven other laboratories in becoming certified under the scheme, which is aimed at establishing an approved list of laboratories worldwide that meet a standard level of quality assurance.
ICA Bremen has developed this scheme based on ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials International) and CSITC (Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton), as well as building on the good practices of USDA and its own laboratory experience.
Open to any international cotton testing laboratory, participating laboratories must meet a level of quality assurance based on specific criteria in eight modules, including conditioning, maintenance, calibration and testing procedures.
Fifteen other laboratories are currently in the process of assessment. Once certified, they will become a ‘Laboratory of Choice’ to resolve quality disputes in line with the ICA Bylaws & Rules, as well as providing a service to the cotton industry.
To find out more about the ICA Bremen International Laboratory Certification Scheme visit www.ica-bremen.org or email .