Date of Release: 24 May 2004
For immediate use

Quality Award for Institute of Food Research

The Institute of Food Research has received ISO 9001 certification from the international certification body Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd for its entire operations. This confirms that the Institute's quality management systems meet the requirement of the international standard. Professor Mike Gasson, Acting Director, IFR, was presented with the certificates by John Roberts, Major Account Manager, LRQA today at IFR.

Receiving the certificates, Professor Gasson said "ISO 9001 certification demonstrates to all our sponsors that we are committed to ensuring our research is managed to the highest standards"

The certification process has been undertaken with the encouragement of the BBSRC, and reflecting the Joint Code of Practice for the Quality Assurance of Research for contractors undertaking scientific research launched in 2003. This demonstrates independent, external recognition of IFR's effectiveness as a research provider, including not only science research but also managerial and support activities. The certificate applies equally to IFR and to IFR Enterprises Ltd and covers the whole scope of the Institute's research - from basic research through to externally-funded and contract work in the three themes of food safety, diet and health, and food materials and ingredients. This has been a substantial commitment for all the staff at IFR and will be on-going. Formal registration to a quality management system standard is still relatively unusual amongst academic research providers.

Congratulating the Institute, Professor Julia Goodfellow, Chief Executive of BBSRC said, "The BBSRC-sponsored institutes frequently play an important role in providing high-quality research which underpins government policy as well as key industries in the UK and have each adopted appropriate measures of quality assurance in line with their fields of work. The ISO 9001 certification is an important acknowledgement of the high-quality service that IFR can provide to government and contractors in the food industries, and I congratulate their endeavour in achieving this recognition."

Notes to editors

• The mission of the Institute of Food Research is to carry out independent basic, and strategic research on food safety, quality, nutrition and health. It is a company limited by guarantee, with charitable status, grant aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
  
• The Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park
  
• Picture available
  
• LQRA and ISO 9001 information:
  • www.lrqa.co.uk
    
  • www.lrqa.co.uk/assessment/qms/default.asp
    
  • BBSRC announcement of Joint Code of Practice (8 May 2003):
    www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/pressreleases/%20defra_03_05_08_qa.html
    
  • Joint Code of Practice for the Quality Assurance of Research:
    www.defra.gov.uk/science/publications/2003/QACoP_V8.pdf

For further information contact:

Jo Belsten
Communications
Institute of Food Research
Norwich Research Park
Colney
Norwich NR4 7UA

Tel: +44 (0) 1603 255 218
Fax: +44 (0) 1603 255 168

e-mail: jo.belsten@bbsrc.ac.uk

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