June 2002 Volume VI, No. 1NEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES The European Commission is using the World Wide Web to facilitate a project aimed at improving communication between individuals, organizations, and businesses affected by mycotoxin-related issues. The European Mycotoxin Awareness Network (EMAN) ultimately seeks to establish a network that can provide readily available information on the many aspects of mycotoxins. Funded by the EC and coordinated by the Leatherhead Food Research Association (LFRA), EMAN’s partners include fourteen leading European mycotoxin institutions: Cranfield Biotechnology Centre/LFRA(UK); IFA-Tulln (Austria); The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark (Denmark); Agence Francaise de Securite Sanitaire des Aliments (France); Wiertz, Eggert, Jorissen GmbH (Germany); General Chemical State Laboratory (Greece); Istituto di scienze delle produzioni alimentari (Italy); National Food Centre (Ireland); Inspectorate for Health Protection and Veterinary Public Health (Netherlands); National Veterinary Institute (Norway); Instituto Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial (Portugal); Institute of Health Carlos III (Spain); National Food Administration (Sweden.) EMAN’s membership is comprised of multidisciplinary experts and is responsible for alerting users to the latest news surrounding mycotoxin-related issues. Members will design, set-up, and maintain the network to keep it effective at an international level. Information will be disseminated through biannual newsletters, interactive online training courses, fact sheets, mycotoxin-related web links, and possibly with annual conferences and workshops. With fact sheets on 13 mycotoxins, the site will provide information on topics including: evaluation of test kits and rapid methods of analysis, analytical methodology, HACCP, evaluation, quality assurance, sampling and legislative means of control, and surveillance and occurrence. EMAN hopes that the network will enable the research community to work more closely with the food industry by establishing a communication portal via the Internet. After the European Commission’s project funding ends, the network will continue on a self-financed basis. The European Mycotoxin Awareness Network can be found on the World Wide Web at: www.mycotoxins.org. |