What makes a food ingredient “natural”?

When is a food ingredient considered as “natural”? Until now, there was no internationally agreed definition of a “natural” food ingredient, but a new ISO technical specification will help the food and beverage industry players speak the same language.

Despite enormous consumer interest for all things “natural”, what actually constitutes a “natural” food ingredient has long been up for debate. Except for a few attempts by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the late 1990s, there have been no internationally agreed requirements in terms of natural food ingredients and food processes – that is, until the advent of technical specification ISO/TS 19657:2017, Definitions and technical criteria for food ingredients to be considered as natural.

The purpose of this document is to provide the necessary criteria for food ingredients to be considered as “natural”, which the food and beverage industry and public authorities can universally refer to at a time when goods are traded freely around the world.

In some regions of the globe, the absence of such criteria has even led to lawsuits. The new ISO/TS 19657 therefore proposes criteria for business-to-business communications on food ingredients that are considered as “natural”, helping to level the playing field and secure fair business practices within the food and beverage industry. The document doesn’t apply to product communication to consumers, such as package labellings.

Dominique Taeymans, Convenor of the working group that developed the technical specification, explains: “This technical specification contains the basic guidelines that will allow food and beverage industry professionals to speak the same language. This is not a straightforward subject, so giving professionals a common basis to fall back on is already a big step forward.”

ISO/TS 19657 addresses the needs of all food and beverage companies and food ingredients manufacturers, regardless of their size and complexity. This document will help to ensure fair practices in all business relationships.

ISO/TS 19657:2017 was developed by ISO/TC 34, Food products, under its working group 18, Natural food ingredients. 

美国商务部所属的国家标准技术研究院(NIST)发布了供评议的合格评定文件草案。美国国家标准协会（ANSI）鼓励所有相关利益方进行评议并于截止日期2018年2月26日周一前将评议提交至NIST。

出版物提供了一份关于合格评定的概述，以便读者更好理解它对市场的影响，并为所有合格评定程序的使用者、开发者和操作者提供了实用的信息。

查看文件：

草案 SP2000-01: 合格评定一般信息-介绍合格评定的概念和有关各种信息：合格评定活动是如何互相关联、对市场的影响以及如何为使用可用合格评定资源提供背景知识。

草案SP2000-02: 联邦机构对合格评定的思考- 提供合格评定概念和活动的基础知识，同时还为联邦部门和机构内部那些使用、依赖、开发、管理或操作合格评估程序的人提供思路。

背景信息详见合格评定文件页面，包括如何进行评议和联系方式 。

New Handbook for Document Control

Separate from recordkeeping and document management, document control addresses the entire life cycle of business critical documents. The new handbook SA/SNZ HB 168:2017, Document Control, provides guidelines for processes and systems for implementing an effective document control program.

Historically, document control has often been seen as a cumbersome, time consuming impediment to business activities due to inefficient processes and systems. However, correct implementation of document control practices can actually streamline business activities and even assist in compliance with legal obligations.

This handbook has been prepared by the joint Australian and New Zealand committee IT- 021, Records and Document Management Systems. Chair of the subcommittee IT-021-14, Document Control, Ms Casey Mowett commented on the development of the document.

 “In today’s fast-paced, technology-enabled world, there are countless opportunities for process digitisation and automation. The development of this handbook has been done with this type of rapid digitisation in mind,” explained Ms Mowett. “As a result, this handbook equips businesses and organisations with technical guidelines on how to best control business critical documents.”

 Judith Ellis, Chair of the international ISO technical committee TC 46/SC 11, Archives/Records Management, added that the handbook is intended to be widely applied across a number of industries.

“Serving as a complete toolkit, SA/SNZ HB 168 aims to provide the guidelines necessary for organisations to be in the best position possible as they strive to achieve best practice, as well as efficient and accountable document control. The handbook has been developed to compliment the implementation of any type of management system.” said Ms Ellis.

The complexities of document control processes are such that every organisation should always consider their own circumstances when using this handbook as a guideline.

New specification for care of racing greyhounds launched

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a new specification for looking after racing greyhounds housed in residential trainers’ kennels. The specification is comprehensive in its scope, covering requirements for constructing the kennels, bedding, diet, and the appropriate veterinary healthcare of greyhounds, among other requirements.

Development of the specification, PAS 251:2017 Specification for greyhound trainers’ residential kennels, was first recommended by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) following a government review of secondary legislation specific to greyhound racing.

PAS 251 provides a consensus-based specification for residential racing greyhound kennels based upon best practice and the collaborative experience of animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, government and industry specialists. The goal of this specification is to provide a kennel standard that supports good welfare practice.

The specification covers requirements related to the physical construction of the kennel, including the unit sizing, lighting and ventilation, kennel interiors, drainage, and electrical appliances. Day-to-day concerns for greyhound handlers’ – such as vaccinations, waste removal, cleaning and disinfectant, and food preparation and storage – are outlined in the PAS. 

The environmental enrichment of the kennelled greyhounds – including requirements for exercise, monitoring behaviour, health and welfare, handling and training – is also covered in the specification. Greyhounds, like all animals, can be unpredictable even when expertly trained. Accordingly, PAS 251 covers emergency precautions, kennel security, and isolation facilities.

Sponsored by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, PAS 251 is applicable to all types of greyhound racing, whether licensed by the local authority or a regulatory body responsible for issuing licenses and accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The implementation of the specification is voluntary; it does not replace the obligations set out in existing animal welfare legislation. 

Whilst intended for kennels which house more than two racing greyhounds, PAS 251 may also be used as guidance for kennels which house two or fewer greyhounds. The specification covers where a greyhound permanently resides, rather than kennels at racecourses designed as temporary kennelling prior to a greyhound taking part in a race.

Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development for Governance and Resilience at BSI, said: “Britain is a nation of dog lovers, and the greyhound is one of our best known breeds. In creating PAS 251, BSI brought together renowned animal charities and industry experts to create best practice care for these animals in residential kennels.

“This new specification is intended to be both realistic and achievable for trainers of greyhounds, whilst also being measurable and auditable if used as a basis of a certification or inspection scheme.”

PAS 251 is not intended for other breeds of dogs, nor is it intended to apply to kennels that only accommodate greyhounds which are retired from racing, such as a greyhound re-homing organization. Commercial greyhound breeding establishments also fall outside the scope of this specification.

The following organizations were involved in the development of PAS 251 as members of the steering group: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home; Defra; Dogs Trust; Greyhound Board of Great Britain; Greyhound Forum; Greyhound Trainers Association; Greyhound Trust; Racecourse Promoters Association; RSPCA; Society of Greyhound Veterinarians; The Kennel Club; UKAS.

CEN Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG): enhancing the quality, efficiency and safety of healthcare services

Standardization in the area of healthcare services has experienced an increase in the number of initiatives. Healthcare services in hospitals and ambulatory care centres are heavily standardized by private, semi-private and public organizations that can be of national, European and international nature. International examples include Joint Commission International (JCI) and Health Standards Organization (HSO). Other standardization bodies in this field include associations of hospitals or medical doctors, quality institutes or private consortia. In recent years, healthcare services standards also have been developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and its members at European and national levels.

Given the importance of this field, the CEN Technical Board decided in March 2016 to establish a Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG) with the aim of exploring how standardization can support quality, efficiency and safety in complex healthcare services throughout Europe. The Focus Group held its first meeting in November 2016.

The Focus group is open to all stakeholders concerned with healthcare services and its meetings are attended by representatives of CEN National Members and representatives of European organizations covering the spectrum of healthcare services. The third meeting of the group took place on 13 November 2017 at CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre in Brussels.

Currently, CEN’s HSFG is doing a mapping of standards in healthcare services. The objective of the exercise is to have a better overview of existing standardisation activities in the field of healthcare services and subsequently to determine whether and where CEN can add value vis-à-vis other organisations.

The expected outcome of the Focus Group is therefore to identify areas in which European standards can add value and propose a way forward for addressing them. Moreover, the Focus Group will produce a CEN Guide – a manual for standard writers in healthcare services. The Guide will consolidate current knowledge and lessons-learnt from the developed European Standards in this field in order to share this experience with interested stakeholders.

The following areas are outside the work scope of the Focus group:

.         Medical informatics and medical devices;

.         Cross-border recognition of professional qualifications;

.         Medical/clinical guidelines based on evidence-based medicine.

CEN Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG): enhancing the quality, efficiency and safety of healthcare services

Standardization in the area of healthcare services has experienced an increase in the number of initiatives. Healthcare services in hospitals and ambulatory care centres are heavily standardized by private, semi-private and public organizations that can be of national, European and international nature. International examples include Joint Commission International (JCI) and Health Standards Organization (HSO). Other standardization bodies in this field include associations of hospitals or medical doctors, quality institutes or private consortia. In recent years, healthcare services standards also have been developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and its members at European and national levels.

Given the importance of this field, the CEN Technical Board decided in March 2016 to establish a Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG) with the aim of exploring how standardization can support quality, efficiency and safety in complex healthcare services throughout Europe. The Focus Group held its first meeting in November 2016.

The Focus group is open to all stakeholders concerned with healthcare services and its meetings are attended by representatives of CEN National Members and representatives of European organizations covering the spectrum of healthcare services. The third meeting of the group took place on 13 November 2017 at CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre in Brussels.

Currently, CEN’s HSFG is doing a mapping of standards in healthcare services. The objective of the exercise is to have a better overview of existing standardisation activities in the field of healthcare services and subsequently to determine whether and where CEN can add value vis-à-vis other organisations.

The expected outcome of the Focus Group is therefore to identify areas in which European standards can add value and propose a way forward for addressing them. Moreover, the Focus Group will produce a CEN Guide – a manual for standard writers in healthcare services. The Guide will consolidate current knowledge and lessons-learnt from the developed European Standards in this field in order to share this experience with interested stakeholders.

The following areas are outside the work scope of the Focus group:

.         Medical informatics and medical devices;

.         Cross-border recognition of professional qualifications;

.         Medical/clinical guidelines based on evidence-based medicine.

DIN SPEC-Projekt für „Serious Games“ gestarte

Am 18.10.2017 fand die Kick-off-Veranstaltung zurDIN SPEC 91380 „Serious Games Metadata Format (SG-MDF)“bei DIN in Berlin statt. Die DIN SPEC soll es Entwicklern von Serious Games ermöglichen, ihre Spiele systematisch zu erfassen und abzulegen. Inhalt der DIN SPEC wird ein hierarchisch aufgebautes, erweiterbares Beschreibungsformat für Serious Games sein, das eine systematische Vergleichbarkeit schafft. Eine solche Datenbank erleichtert es den Käufern, für sie geeignete Spiele zu finden. Der Initiator und Workshop-Leiter Dr. Stefan Göbel (TU Darmstadt und httc e.V.) wird in Abstimmung mit dem Gremium ein Auskunftssystem auf Basis des SG-MDF für Serious Games entwickeln.

Der Geschäftsplan für die DIN SPEC wurde während der Kick-off- Veranstaltung von 43 Personen aus 37 Organisationen angenommen. Vertreten waren Firmen aus der Wirtschaft (Spieleentwickler und Spieledesigner mit verschiedensten Schwerpunkten) und Institutionen der Wissenschaft sowie Vertreter aus Politik und Verwaltung. Der Standard soll innerhalb von sechs Monaten erarbeitet werden. Im nächsten Schritt ist es denkbar, den Standard über das Europäische Komitee für Normung (CEN) und die Internationale Organisation für Normung (ISO) in die internationale Normung zu überführen.

Was sind Serious Games?

Serious Games sind Spiele, die nicht hauptsächlich die Unterhaltung zum Zweck haben. Sie haben mindestens ein weiteres Ziel, beispielsweise einen Lerneffekt, eine Verhaltensänderung oder eine Aufklärungs- bzw. Bewusstseinsveränderung. Sie werden unter anderem von Lehrern, Ausbildern, Trainern, ärzten oder Therapeuten genutzt. Die Anwendungen finden sich in Bereichen wie Sport, Gesundheit, Ernährung, Mobilitätsverhalten, Sicherheit, Religion, Klima oder auch Energie und vielem mehr.

Europaweite Zertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten

DIN SPEC als Basis für Europäische Normungsarbeit

Ziel des Forschungsprojekts „AUDITOR“ ist die Konzeptionierung, exemplarische Umsetzung und Erprobung einer nachhaltig anwendbaren EU-weiten Datenschutzzertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten. Um eine nachhaltige Datenschutzzertifizierung zu konzipieren, wird zunächst ein Kriterienkatalog für die Zertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten nach der DSGVO entwickelt und eine entsprechende Standardisierung in Form einer DIN SPEC angestrebt. Diese DIN SPEC bildet die Grundlage für die Europäische Normung und die Entwicklung eines EU-weit anerkannten Datenschutz-Zertifizierungsschemas.

Lesen Sie mehr zu diesem Thema auf der Website der Uni-Kassel