Expert on Accreditation for Animal Product Safety and Laboratory Upgrade

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) titled “Improving Food Quality of Animal Origin, Animal Health, and Services through Laboratory Accreditation of the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI)”, aims to support Sri Lanka in securing international accreditation for key veterinary laboratories to ensure availability of safe food of animal origin, animal and fish health and other regulatory services. This accreditation will enable the VRI to meet globally recognized standards in quality assurance and regulatory compliance, particularly in veterinary diagnostics and food safety.

To achieve this goal, FAO is engaging an international expert with proven experience in laboratory accreditation—specifically in areas related to food safety, testing animal-origin food products, and animal tissue diagnostics. To provide technical expertise and guidance to the VRI in upgrading laboratory systems, processes, and infrastructure in compliance with international accreditation standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025 , biorisk management standard ISO 35001:2019), and to support the accreditation process of laboratories involved in testing animal origin food products, animal tissue samples.

In a global landscape where markets are increasingly regulated and quality-conscious, aligning national laboratory systems with international benchmarks is imperative. For Sri Lanka, this alignment is not only essential for safeguarding public and animal health but also for enhancing the credibility, safety, and export potential of animal-origin products, including biologicals and vaccines.

To this end, the VRI must sustain modern laboratory infrastructure and ensure the continuous delivery of reliable, high-quality diagnostic services. Keeping pace with technological advancements and strengthening the technical capacities of laboratory personnel through ongoing training are critical components of this effort.

Currently, the VRI operates five specialized laboratories, each playing a pivotal role in the national veterinary and food safety systems:
•     Central Veterinary Investigation Centre (CVIC): Provides animal disease diagnostics and conducts microbiological quality testing of meat, milk, eggs, and other animal-based products.
•     Dairy Technology Laboratory (DTL): Conducts comprehensive quality testing of milk and dairy products.
•     Animal Virus Laboratory (AVL): Specializes in the diagnosis of viral diseases and the development of viral vaccines.
•     Animal Nutrition Laboratory (ANL): Performs nutritional analysis of animal feed and food of animal origin, including testing for aflatoxins, antibiotic residues, and mineral composition.
•     Aquaculture Laboratory (AL): Certifies live fish for export in compliance with standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

These laboratories serve a broad range of stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector enterprises, and farming communities. Their collective contribution supports national efforts in animal health, food safety, and trade facilitation.

Under the provisions of Sri Lanka’s Food Act, the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) is the designated authority responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of animal-origin food products. Thus, attaining international accreditation for the VRI’s laboratories is both a regulatory requirement and a strategic priority. It is essential for expanding global market access and advancing the country’s agenda for sustainable agricultural and livestock sector development.

This assignment will contribute to the establishment of a robust, internationally accredited veterinary laboratory system in Sri Lanka, supporting national objectives related to food safety, trade facilitation, and sustainable agricultural development. Furthermore, the continued operation of accredited laboratory testing will help build trust among consumers and trading partners, ensuring the safety and quality of animal-origin products. This, in turn, will promote fair trade practices and expand opportunities for Sri Lanka in international markets.

Reporting Lines

The International Expert on Accreditation for Animal Product Safety and Laboratory Upgrade will provide technical guidance to ensure the VRI in upgrading laboratory systems, processes, and infrastructure in compliance with international accreditation standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025 , bio risk management standard ISO 35001:2019), and to support the accreditation process of laboratories involved in testing animal origin food products, animal tissue samples. The expert will work under the overall administrative leadership and supervision of the FAO Representative in Sri Lanka (FAOR), and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programme) and the TCP Operational Specialist.

Technical oversight will be provided by the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) at the Office of the ADG/Regional Representative, in collaboration with the International Expert on Accreditation for Animal Product Safety and Laboratory Upgrading. The expert is also expected to work in close coordination with the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) to ensure the successful implementation of the accreditation framework.

Technical Focus

The International Expert on Accreditation for Animal Product Safety and Laboratory Upgrade will play the key role in achieving the outputs and targets under Expected Result 1, 2 and 3 – “Availability of Sri Lanka Accreditation Board Certification; Trained laboratory staff with facilities and; Improved waste handling system established” Specifically, the expert will be responsible for providing technical expertise and guidance to the VRI in upgrading laboratory systems, processes, and infrastructure in compliance with international accreditation standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025 , biorisk management standard ISO 35001:2019), and to support the accreditation process of laboratories involved in testing animal origin food products, animal tissue samples, and capacity building of the staff.

Tasks and responsibilities

The International Expert will be responsible for:
•     Conducting a comprehensive assessment of the current status of VRI laboratories.
•     Reviewing and advising on laboratory sample testing, infrastructure, equipment, workflows, waste management, sample storage, documentation, and human resource capacity relevant to international accreditation.
•     Recommending upgrades and changes required to align with ISO/IEC 17025 or other relevant accreditation standards (For example, bio risk management standard ISO 35001:2019) and waste management standards.
•     Providing technical input on procurement specifications for laboratory equipment and consumables.
•     Supporting the development and implementation of quality management systems (QMS).
•     Advising on training needs and conducting capacity-building activities for laboratory personnel.
•     Guiding the preparation of documentation required for accreditation.
•     Supporting communication and coordination with relevant accreditation bodies.
•     Providing periodic progress reports and a final report outlining recommendations, activities undertaken, and results achieved.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in veterinary science, microbiology, food science, quality management, or a related discipline. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience;
•     At least 10 years of proven experience supporting laboratories in achieving ISO/IEC 17025 or other relevant international accreditation standards (e.g., ISO 6579-1, ISO 19344, ISO 35001), including the development and implementation of quality management systems (QMS)..
•     Working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

•     At least 10 years of proven experience supporting laboratories in achieving ISO/IEC 17025 or other relevant international accreditation standards (e.g., ISO 6579-1, ISO 19344, ISO 35001), including the development and implementation of quality management systems (QMS)..
•     Experience in upgrading laboratories in developing country contexts.
•     Demonstrated expertise in laboratory assessments, infrastructure and workflow optimization, and procurement planning. 
•     Excellent communication, training, and report writing skills.