State General Laboratory Annual Report 2018

16 State General laboratory Annual Report 2018 RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH Applied research is an important pillar of the continuous scientific and technological development of the SGL. Research carried out contributes towards problem solving and prevention as well as supporting policy decisions and legislation, while boosting socioeconomic growth. The main areas of research cover especially food safety and quality, food authenticity and geographical origin, water, environment and health, as well as narcotics. Research is carried out primarily with EU funds but also with national funds by the Research Promotion Foundation and the Ministry of Health. During 2018, the SGL utilised €301,251 from national and EU funds for research programmes. The results of these research activities have been presented at international conferences and published in international, well-established, scientific journals and magazines, as well as on the SGL’s website and in the local mass media for keeping updated both the scientific community and the public at large. In 2018, the SGL started or continued the following 16 research projects / studies: a) EU Research programmes funded by the European Food Safety Authority (5) 1. " Support to national dietary surveys " in compliance with the EFSA Guidance on General principles for the collection of national food consumption data in view of a pan-European dietary survey ( LOT1 (children) ) - "EU MENU" (2013 - 2018). 2. " Support to national dietary surveys " in compliance with the EFSA Guidance on General principles for the collection of national food consumption data in view of a pan-European dietary survey ( LOT2 (adults) ) - "EU MENU" (2013 - 2018). 3. EFSA Multi-Annual Focal Point Grant Agreement (2015-2018). 4. " Risk characterisation of Ciguatera food poisoning in Europe ", signed under Framework Partnership Agreement GP/EFSA/AFSCO/2015/03 for the "Evaluation of ciguatoxins (ctxs) in seafood and the environment for the risk assessment of ciguatera fish poisoning (cfp), with the consequent obtainment of reference material" (2016 - 2020). 5. Strategic Partnership with Cyprus on Data Quality - GP/EFSA/DATA/2016/01 - GA 02) (Pilot Project) for the improvement of the process of collecting and sending data from Member States to EFSA in terms of their quality, which is measurable, and their governance at national level (2017 - 2018).