AMC Expert Working Groups

Establishing comprehensive frameworks for appropriate quality in chemical measurement

Analytical Methods Expert Working Groups

Most of the Expert Working Groups are orientated towards a specific topic area. Much of the financial support for them has been provided by government bodies, particularly the Food Standards Agency and the NMO. Publications, Reports, Software and Technical Briefs produced by the Expert working groups can be found following the links below.

AMC Software
AMC Technical Briefs
AMC Reports
AMC Presentations

The present Expert Working Groups are:

Animal Feedingstuffs

Animal Feedingstuffs Expert Working Group

Aims and intentions

The work of the Animal Feedingstuffs Expert Working Group involves introduction and validation of new methods of analysis and improvement of existing methods, through collaborative testing. Although the analysis of animal feedingstuffs (including pet foods) is subject to the Feeding Stuffs Regulations in the UK, the Expert Working Group conducts work relating to activities within the European Union and receives reports from the EU Committee of Experts on Methods of Analysis.

Usually, when a new method has been validated, it is submitted to the AMC for approval and, if considered satisfactory, published in a suitable journal. Subsequently methods may be submitted to the EU Committee of Experts to be considered for incorporation into EU and UK legislation. The group continues to respond to the needs of the industry.

Membership

The Expert Working Group is made up of representatives from consultants, government, industry, and public analysts. Membership of the Animal Feedingstuffs Expert Working Group, as of 1 May 2019, is:

  • Vacancy - Chair
  • Andrew Damant - FSA
  • Chris Piotrowski - Aunir
  • George Perrott - AIC
  • Kevin Wardle - APA
  • Kirstin Gray - LGC
  • Lana Oliver - PFMA
  • Michael Blotz - Salamon and Seaber
  • Ray Smith - Consultant
  • Sarah Hormozi - PFMA
  • Steve Revett - Mars
  • Susan Macdonald - Fera
  • Roger Wood - Secretary
Essential Oils

Essential Oils Expert Working Group

Aims and Intentions

The aims of the Expert Working Group are the elaboration and validation of analytical methods to determine the quality and authenticity of traded essential oils.  This is mainly by the use of gas chromatography and has included the publication of fingerprint chromatograms, obtained under standard conditions, and the quantitative determination of individual components of interest.

The Expert Working Group responds to requests from the essential oils trade and demands arising from new legislation.

Individual members participate in committee meetings and working groups of the main trade associations of the flavour and fragrance industry and represent the UK at meetings of international and European standards and regulatory bodies.  These include the ISO, CEN, BSI, IFEAT, IFRA, EFFA, EFEO, IOFI, RIFM and BEOA.

The Expert Working Group is, therefore, in a strong position to influence decisions made by these bodies, exchange information and avoid duplication of effort.  Members comment on draft standards and monographs making recommendations on the UK vote as appropriate.

Membership

Membership of the Essential Oils Expert Working Group, as of as of 12 February 2025:

  • Neil Owen - Consultant (Ex-Givaudan Ltd) (Chair) 
  • Hannah Canning - R.C. Treatt & Co. Ltd
  • Neil DaCosta - International Flavors & Fragrances Inc
  • Philippe Merle - DSM-Firmenich, Geneva
  • Michael Milchard* - Retired
  • Glenn Moran - CPL Aromas Ltd
  • Nick Moss - Tilley Distribution UK Ltd
  • Nick Roach - Fragrance Oils (Int.) Ltd
  • Alan Sherlock - Consultant (Ex-R C Treatt & Co. Ltd)
  • James Webb - FD Copeland & Sons Ltd
  • John R. Dean - Secretary, AMC

*Corresponding member

 
 
Food and Feed Authenticity

Nitrogen Factors Sub-committee

Aims and Intentions

Labelling rules require that where ingredients are highlighted in the name of the food, the amount of that ingredient must be declared as a percentage of the final product (QUID- quantitative ingredient declaration). Although the amount of an ingredient is calculated on a recipe basis, enforcement authorities usually check the declaration by analysis of the finished product.

The analysis determines the nitrogen (mainly on a fat free basis) of meat or fish ingredient, and converts this to a meat or fish content using a previously determined nitrogen factor. The Sub-committee oversees the determination of nitrogen factors for meat, poultry and seafood for use by both enforcement laboratories to check labelling and by industry to check their meat and seafood raw materials.

The Subcommittee has already produced reports on nitrogen factors for pork (1991), beef (1993), mutton and lamb (1995, 1996), chicken (2000), scampi (2000), turkey (2002) and cod fillet and mince blocks for coated fish products (2007). 

Its continuing programme of work is to determine meat and seafood ingredients, which are important to the UK market for meat and seafood products.

Membership

  • Mark Woolfe - Chairman
  • Andrew Caines - Cranswick
  • Bhavna Parmar - Food Standards Agency
  • Charles Boardman - Seachill
  • David Keeble - Faccenda
  • Duncan Campbell - West Yorkshire Analytical Services
  • Elizabeth Moran - Public Analyst Analytical Services
  • Jeremy Hall - Bernard Matthews
  • Mike Thompson - Birknbeck College
  • Pendi Najran - Defra
  • Robbie Beattie - Edinburgh Scientific Services
  • Selvarani Elahi - LGC
  • Steve Lamming - Consultant, ex-Youngs Seafood
  • Steve Moore - Faccenda
  • Roger Wood OBE - Secretary
Heritage Science

Aims and Intentions

The aim of the Heritage Science Expert Working Group (EWG) is to promote the role and importance of analytical science in the cultural heritage sector. This involves improving the understanding of what each analysis method can deliver, explaining the best approaches to data collection and encouraging events that highlight appropriate analytical techniques within the conservation community. These aims are achieved through:

  • the production of Technical Briefs that discuss specific analytical techniques needed to analyse heritage materials and
  • the participation in and organisation of events that promote awareness of analytical science 

The EWG consists of representatives from the fields of conservation and heritage science to determine the analytical needs of the community. Technical Briefs are written in response to specific needs identified by the Group.

Membership

The EWG is made up of representatives from industry and academia. Membership of the Heritage Science Expert Working Group, as of 5 December 2024:

  • Dr Lucia Burgio - Victoria and Albert Museum (Chair)
  • Ms Abigail Bainbridge - Bainbridge Conservation
  • Dr Katherine Curran - University College London
  • Dr Callum Graham - Historic Environment Scotland
  • Dr Joshua Hill - National Gallery
  • Dr Barry Knight - Retired, The British Library
  • Peter Martindale - Peter Martindale Conservation
  • Dr David Mills - Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Rebecca Stacey - The British Museum
  • Dr Siobhan Watts - National Museums Liverpool
  • Prof John Dean - Secretary, AMC
 
Instrumental Analysis

Aims and Intentions

The Instrumental Analysis Expert Working Group is the successor to the earlier AMC Sub-Committees on Instrumental Criteria (IASC) and Mass Spectrometry (MSSC). The objectives of the IASC were to tabulate features of analytical instruments that should be considered when comparing various systems prior to making a purchase. The extensive series of IASC reports, which are also widely used as teaching aids, has continued with the present group.

The MSSC prepared detailed training guides aimed at improving the quality of measurements by mass spectrometry. The activities of the earlier groups are now augmented with more general guidance for a range of analytical instruments and applications together with a series of technical briefs aimed at a wider audience. 

The overall aim of the Group is to assist analytical scientists in the purchase and use of instrumentation and to promote a wider understanding of both the benefits and limitations of modern analytical instrumentation. The tasks undertaken are in response to specific needs that have been identified by the Group members or to requests from the analytical science community. The reports listed below were prepared by all three AMC Groups mentioned above.

Membership

Members are recruited for their expertise in their speciality, usually to undertake a specific task. The Group welcomes longer participation by members in order to maintain a wide range of expertise for its policy of extensively discussing and reviewing each work item in committee. This helps to maintain the accuracy of the reports and other publications as well as ensuring that they are written for a wide scientific audience.

As of 1 July 2023, the committee members are as follows.

  • Dr Mike Sargent - Chair
  • Dr Ruth Godfrey - Secretary (Swansea University)
  • Dr Mark Barrow - University of Warwick
  • Ms Amanda Bole - Biosearch Ltd
  • Dr Robert Channon - MIP Discovery
  • Mr Jonathan Dunscombe - Element
  • Dr Jamie Harrower - Syngenta Ltd
  • Mr Mike Healy - Environment Agency
  • Prof Steve J Hill - University of Plymouth
  • Dr Ian Pengelly - Health and Safety Laboratory
  • Dr Mansoor Saeed - Syngenta Ltd

Mass Spectrometry Guides

download-bl.pngGuide to achieving reliable quantitative LC-MS measurements

November 2013

download-bl.pngBest Practice Guide for Generating Mass Spectra

December 2006

download-bl.pngMethodology for Accurate Mass Measurement of small molecules

Best practice guide
Statistical Methods

Statistical Methods Expert Working Group

Aims and Intentions 

The Expert Working Group advises the AMC and the chemical community on the development and proper performance of analytical quality procedures, including uncertainty evaluation, calibration methods and limits of detection, method validation, quality assurance and internal quality control, and experimental design and optimisation. Statistics plays a key role in all these areas of the analytical sciences, and the Expert Working Group promotes and facilitates the use of the most suitable statistical methods within the Analytical Community by its publications, software and databases.

These aims are addressed by:

  • providing information about good basic statistical practice.
  • investigating the benefits and limitations of both traditional and more modern statistical methods in analytical science. 
  • facilitating the use of newer statistical techniques by providing the necessary information in a readily usable form.  This is achieved through the publication of a range of informative Technical Briefs and associated software.
  • applying statistical principles to undecided problems relating to quality in analytical data.  
  • promoting best practice in method validation for both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis, including the design of validation experiments and analysis of validation data.
  • providing and, where appropriate, contributing to the development of technical information on experimental procedures for method validation.
  • ensuring wide applicability of guidance from the Expert Working Group by collaboration with appropriate national and international organisations, including the UK Working Groups on Proficiency Testing and Reference Materials, BSI, Eurachem, and IUPAC.
  • reviewing, commenting on and developing guidance for method validation and quality assurance on behalf of the AMC.

Membership

The Sub-Committee is made up of representatives from consultants, government, industry and public analysts. Membership of the Statistical Methods Sub-Committee, as of 1 July 2017, is:

  • Prof J N Miller - Chairman
  • Dr David Bullock - UK NEQAS 
  • Dr Andy Damant - AMC Technical Briefs Editor
  • Mr Mark Earll - Syngenta 
  • Dr Steve Ellison - LGC
  • Prof Tom Fearn  - UCL 
  • Dr Lee Gonzalez - Charles Sturt University
  • Mr Mike Healy - Environment Agency 
  • Mr Roy Macarthur  - Fera, York 
  • Mr Nigel Payne - Association of Public Analysts
  • Prof Mike Ramsey - University of Sussex
  • Dr Peter Rostron - University of Sussex
  • Prof Mike Thompson - Birkbeck College, University of London 
  • Mr Alex Williams CB - Consultant (corresponding member) 
  • Dr Roger Wood OBE - Secretary
Sampling Uncertainty / Sampling Quality

Sampling Uncertainty/Sampling Quality Expert Working Group

Aims and Intentions

Primary sampling can useful be considered to be the first step in analytical measurement and can often contribute the largest component to the overall uncertainty of measurement. The quality and appropriateness of the sampling procedure is however, often not considered by analytical scientists. The aims of the Sampling and Uncertainty Expert Working Group are therefore to:

  • encourage analysts to include primary sampling in uncertainty budgets for the whole measurement process 
  • provide information on methods for the evaluation of the uncertainty associated with sampling protocols 
  • assess existing procedures of evaluating methods of sampling and sample preparation, and encourage the development of improved procedures 
  • encourage best-practise in ensuring sampling quality that is fit-for-purpose 
  • ensure international applicability of guidance from the Expert Working Group by collaboration with appropriate organisations 
  • clarify who needs to be responsible for the quality of sampling and enable their effective communication with the analysts.

Membership

Membership of the Sampling Uncertainty Expert Working Group as of 12th February 2025:

  • Mike Ramsey - University of Sussex (Chair)
  • Bob Barnes - Environment Agency
  • Bhavna Parmar* - Food Standards Agency
  • Mike Thompson* - Birkbeck College
  • Nabanita Basu - Northumbria University
  • Peter Rostron - Consultant (formerly of University of Sussex)
  • Roger Wood OBE - Formerly Food Standards Agency
  • Steve Ellison - LGC
  • John R. Dean - AMC Secretary

*Corresponding members

Usually meets and works jointly with the Eurachem Working Group on Uncertainty from Sampling.