ANNUAL REPORT 2022 | 19 AWARDS In November 2022, a certificate of excellent performance was awarded to the SGL because the laboratory was among the top-three laboratories with the lowest average z-score in the proficiency test: “Vegetablebased food for Al, As, Cd, Pb and nitrate”, organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Metals and Nitrogenous Compounds in Feed and Food (EURL-MN- https://www.eurl-mn.eu/about). FUTURE GOALS The SGL, in view of the continuous scientific challenges, new requirements of the EU legislation, various emerging issues and possible food/environmental crises/incidences, seeks to substantially respond to these challenges, having as a driving force for the accomplishment of these targets its highly professional and dedicated staff. Based on the above, the following future goals have been set by the SGL: 1. Response to increasing monitoring and control requirements in areas of its competence and continuous improvement of its services. 2. Continuous development of its human resources and completion of its reorganisation and consolidation of its scientific excellence with permanent scientific staff. 3. Continuous provision of timely, reliable, scientifically-based information to the competent authorities, the media, various stakeholders and the public at large. 4. Expansion and support of the following: – Targeted educational programmes for all stakeholders, including the private sector, with the aim of protecting public health through prevention and improving the socioeconomic development of the country. – Networking with European centres of excellence and research institutes and organisations, with the aim of enhancing its scientific role at the EU level. – Establishment of the SGL as a Centre of expertise and excellence at a national, regional and European level. 5. Further strengthening of the following: – Coordination and collaboration between competent authorities for more efficient and effective official controls. – Food Safety Council’s (FSC) activities, especially via the continuous improvement of its “ImproRisk” deterministic model for the food risk assessment of the population at individual level, as well as with the required risk assessment studies and better exploitation of the results of official controls. – Cyprus National Addictions Authority activities. – Applied research mostly through utilisation of EU funds 6. Close collaboration with academic centres for research projects, aiming to the socioeconomic development of Cyprus and attracting new high qualified scientists. 7. Strengthening of the close cooperation with relevant competent authorities for the construction of the SGL’s new building, which will reflect its high scientific level as a centre of expertise and excellence at national, regional and European level. 8. Utilisation of the new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). 9. Continuous improvement of its credibility, transparency and responsiveness to crises aiming at preserving the confidence that every Cypriot and European citizen has towards the SGL.
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