Globally recognised provider of proficiency tests, running over 400 tests annually across an extensive range of matrices and analytes
A single sample taken by an ecologist at any time during the newt breeding season can determine their presence or absence, saving you time and money
Safeguarding essential pollinators - bees and other pollinating insects perform essential services in any ecosystem
years of science
R&D projects
active partnerships
samples per year
Read about the latest outputs from the European collaboration that Fera is leading on with over 230 members from 43 countries:
Interactive Knowledge Base - to identify food authenticity issues;
Current gap analysis for detecting and preventing food fraud;
Authentication of olive oil and spirits;
Chinese consumer attitudes to European food products;
A “Citizen Science” study at fish mislabeling in the restaurant sector.
Fera has the scientific and regulatory expertise to provide consultancy services to help you with every step of the regulatory framework process. Our experience derives from working in government, industry, contract research organisations and in regulatory consultancies. We have well-established working relationships with many competent authorities, which means we can support you to achieve product registrations effectively and efficiently.
Preparing a detailed and thorough dossier of evidence and data is essential for a hassle-free product approval. We can help to ensure that you provide all the necessary evidence, compliance data and risk assessments to satisfy the requirements of the regulatory authority – whether for BPR or REACH registration.
Fera consultancy services support you through the regulatory processes required to register your chemical products and biocides in the EU.
If you are a company developing veterinary products or plant protection products (PPPs), it’s essential that you fully assess the risks posed by your products to the wider environment and natural ecosystems.
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Our research expertise and scientific resources can help you to test your plant-protection products for their effects on bee survival, development and behaviour – helping you to develop products that are safe for bees and other pollinators.
Senior Bee Ecotoxicologist
Selwyn has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of agriculture, now specialising in bee ecotoxicology. He is responsible for the management and delivery of bee-related work and the development and expansion of the business and science capabilities within the team.
With a large range of testing abilities, our multi-disciplinary approach gives an overall view of any food issue you may be facing, providing you with the complete information you need to make the strong decisions needed to address these issues.
Food recalls can cost millions of pounds and can devastate a company's reputation. Consumers, retailers and regulators are now demanding transparency and accountability for the entire ingredient supply chain.
Fera is the UK National Reference Laboratory for Materials and Articles in Contact with Food. Food contact materials testing is used worldwide to make sure that food is not contaminated by any of the products it comes into contact with.
Our experts focus on the scientific research relating to intentionally added food components and to those arising from chemical changes during food processing, bioactive chemicals and natural toxicants
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To aid in the declaration of polyphosphates we have developed a test that detects the amount of 'added' phosphates in prawns, distinguishing between the naturally occurring levels of phosphates and the level of added phosphates.
Scientific Lead and Project Manager for Food Authenticity
James is the scientific lead and project manager for work relating to food authenticity at Fera. Currently, his primary research interests are identification of biomarkers and where applicable, the subsequent development of rapid and/or portable tools for their detection.
Fera offers a suite of crop health services, resources, testing facilities and expertise to help farmers, growers and the food industry to improve yields, reduce costs and develop sustainable solutions.
Initial assessment typically includes visual examination of your sample by our plant pathologists to assess the most probable cause and appropriate method of testing. We will report back to you within 5 working days of receiving your sample, giving our initial examination findings and if appropriate, a time-scale for completion of the work.
Pests and diseases present a major challenge to both agriculture and our natural environment, with around one third of the global harvest lost to weeds, pests and diseases every year. Fera provides a host of targeted research and development services to help governments, policymakers, agricultural and horticultural businesses, farmers and growers tackle these threats.
The Fera insect monitoring service helps growers to target insecticide applications more accurately to reduce costs and waste, optimise resources and improve yields.
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LIAISON provides instant online access to a wealth of information on all UK pesticide approvals, label information and Maximum Residue Levels.
Principle Plant Virologist
As lead virologist, his role is to deliver a high-quality virology diagnostic service to a wide range of UK and overseas government and commercial clients. Adrian has participated as an external expert on working groups for European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Established in 1990, Fapas is a globally recognised provider of proficiency tests, running over 400 tests annually across an extensive range of matrices and analytes for the food and water, environmental chemistry and microbiology sectors.
Proficiency testing is an essential part of laboratory quality procedure and participation is a mandatory requirement of ISO 17025 accreditation. Fapas proficiency testing provides an independent assessment of your laboratory performance and compares your results to laboratories worldwide.
Surplus test materials from the batch used for the PT may be available for purchase as quality control (QC) samples. These QC samples may be used for troubleshooting poor performance in the PT, training of new staff, method development or generating QC charts.
Reference Materials (RMs) are also available from Fapas for some analyte/matrix combinations. RMs have a much higher degree of characterisation than PT or QC materials with a defined chain of traceability
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Bespoke schemes from Fapas give customers a variety of ways of commissioning proficiency tests to their own specification.
Scientific Advisor to Fapas
Mark’s principal role is to provide expert advice on all aspects of Fapas proficiency tests and to investigate difficult datasets and their underlying scientific problems. Mark is also responsible for new product development in proficiency testing and developing bespoke schemes.
Translating research into real-world solutions across the agri-food supply chain
We live in a changing world, one that faces global challenges such as climate change, increasing globalisation and population growth. In turn, these all affect our food security. Learn how we are meeting these challenges within our Science Strategy.
As an organisation our focus is translating research into evidence and science-based products and services. As we move forward, we encourage an approach that is more entrepreneurial, internationally-focused and integrated into cross-cutting, interdisciplinary programmes that are underpinned by our strategic partnerships and driven by the needs of our customers.
The aim of the partnership is to deliver innovation in research across the agri-food supply chain, and provide sustainable solutions to problems facing Fera’s diverse customer base in both the agricultural and food sectors. The Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation (IAFRI) is a joint venture between Newcastle University and Fera Science Ltd (Fera).
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We collaborate and partner with many industry and government organisations in order to aid in the safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy.
Director of Science
Rick is the Director of Science at Fera, leading on science strategy and head of profession for over 350 scientists. Rick has extensive experience of working with both government and industry, across agriculture, horticulture and into the wider environment.
Taking part in Fapas proficiency tests provides you with the confidence in your laboratory equipment, methods and staff, and assurance that you are delivering the quality results required by your customers.
We provide our participants with a confidential service that allows you to participate at a level that suits you; there is no minimum number of proficiency tests that you must take part in each year.
Fera has responded swiftly to the scandal over contaminated eggs with pesticide Fipronil, by adapting their accredited LCMS technique. This technique is typically used for the matrices of fruit, vegetable and cereals. Feras experts have adapted this method resulting in an accredited analysis to detect Fipronil in eggs.
Fera has played a leading role within pesticide residues analysis for years and is the National Reference laboratory for the analysis of pesticide residues.
"Our origins in delivering science for the public good stretch back over 100 years therefore it was important to us to develop a test to help industry understand if their products have the presence of Fipronil so that they can take the necessary steps to protect their customers and the public"
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