FAO and the European Union are strengthening Uzbekistan's laboratory capacity to ensure the safe handling of chemicals.

FAO and the European Union are strengthening Uzbekistan's laboratory capacity for the safe handling of chemicals.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) —

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with financial support from the European Union under the "Technical Assistance for the Sound Management of Hazardous Chemicals" project, has launched the second phase of a specialized training program for staff of the National Center for Environmental Monitoring (NCEM) of Uzbekistan.

The four-day training, taking place in Tashkent from August 10 to 13, aims to strengthen national capacity in chemical analysis, pesticide residue determination, and environmental monitoring.

The training comprises the third and fourth modules of a four-stage program designed to enhance the technical qualifications of NCEM specialists and facilitate the laboratory's progress toward international accreditation.

A continuation of the first phase, held in June 2026, the program focuses on the validation of analytical methods in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, as well as chemical safety and chemical risk management in laboratory settings.

The module, which will be held on August 10–11, provides practical training in the principles of analytical method validation and their key performance characteristics, including selectivity, calibration, recovery, precision, and detection and quantification limits.

In addition, participants will receive specialized guidance on approaches to validating analytical methods for the LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS systems supplied as part of the project. During the training, specialists will develop a draft method validation plan for multicomponent pesticide residue analysis and complete a practical assignment on evaluating analytical data.

The next module, scheduled for August 12–13, will focus on chemical safety and chemical risk management in analytical laboratories. The program includes topics related to chemical hazard identification, risk assessment, safe storage and handling of chemicals, engineering controls, use of personal protective equipment, emergency preparedness, and hazardous waste management.

The training also includes a practical chemical safety audit aimed at improving compliance with occupational health, safety, and environmental protection requirements.

The module is expected to result in the preparation of an occupational risk assessment, a hazardous waste management plan, and a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) for chemical safety.

"A reliable laboratory is built on trust in every result obtained, and this trust begins with high-quality validated analytical methods," noted FAO International Laboratory Officer Mohammad Nazem Shirazi.

"This training will enable specialists from the National Center for Environmental Monitoring to acquire the practical skills necessary to independently validate analytical methods, implement reliable quality control procedures, and obtain reliable, internationally recognized results for pesticide residue analysis in environmental samples.

These competencies are key to conducting data-based environmental monitoring, making informed regulatory decisions, and ensuring the sound management of hazardous chemicals in Uzbekistan."

The European Union-funded FAO project "Technical Assistance for the Sound Management of Hazardous Chemicals," worth €3.9 million, supports Uzbekistan in reducing its negative environmental impacts by improving pesticide management, strengthening public administration of chemicals, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.