Campden BRI has been chosen by the Rural Payments Agency to carry out chemical testing to ensure the authenticity of olive oil imported into the UK. The analysis will be carried out at Campden BRI’s laboratories at its headquarters in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.
New EU olive oil regulations come into force in the UK next month to ensure that olive oil is marketed correctly and to provide a deterrent against fraud. Campden BRI said that its analysis work will form an integral part of conformity checks carried out at olive oil bottlers and retailers. The companyI will analyse batches of olive oil for a range of lipid components, and these tests will determine if the olive oil grade declared on the label is genuine.
“Food authenticity continues to be a high profile issue and we are delighted to be chosen by the RPA to help industry and government meet the challenge of beating food fraud,” said Dr Julian South, head of chemistry and biochemistry at Campden BR. “This contract reflects our position as a trusted and respected centre providing technical excellence to the food and drink industry”.
Campden BRI will be responsible for all the testing of Extra Virgin olive oil, Virgin olive oil, olive oil composed of refined olive oils and virgin olive oils, and olive pomace oil imported into the UK.
