On June 25th, 2026, the NF VALIDATION mark was awarded to 140 food microbiology analysis methods, validated according to the ISO 16140-2: 2016 protocol and its amendment A1 (2024).
In addition, 2 antibiotic residue screening methods have been validated in accordance with the AFNOR Certification antibiotic validation protocol.
On the advice and recommendations of the Food Technical Board (relative majority vote) of the NF VALIDATION brand of 24 and 25 June 2026, AFNOR Certification has approved :
◾Renewal of methods:
- PREMI®TEST from R-Biopharm AG,
- BACARA®, ALOA® COUNT and VIDAS® Salmonella (single selective enrichment) from bioMérieux,
- BAX® System RT-PCR Assay coli O157:H7 from HYGIENA LLC,
- Neogen® Petrifilm® Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate from Neogen Food Safety Corporation,
- Thermo Scientific™ Listeria Precis™ (Enumeration Listeria monocytogenes) from OXOID Ltd., a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific,
- MicroSEQ Salmonella from Life Technologies, a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific,
- And Solus Listeria monocytogenes ELISA from Solus Scientific.
◾Extension of methods:
- EZ-Check Salmonella and iQ-Check™ Salmonella spp. (BIO-RAD Laboratories) to allow the addition of a harmonised protocol for the following four categories up to 375 g:
- Raw meat and ready-to-cook meat,
- Raw poultry and heat-treated poultry,
- Eggs and egg products,
- Multi-component foods.
- EZ-Check Salmonella for the addition of a specific protocol for the chocolate category (up to 375 g) with skimmed milk enrichment and a dilution ratio of 1:10.
- RAPID’Salmonella for the addition of a new enrichment protocol specific to UHT milk for the chocolate and chocolate products category (up to 375 g).
- EASY STAPH® (SOLABIA SAS) to enable enumeration on a single plate instead of two.
- Thermo Scientific™ SureTect™ Cronobacter species PCR Assay (OXOID Ltd., a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific) to include an optional step for the removal of free DNA for the infant food category (using the BPW + novobiocin protocol) and industrial production environmental samples (using the BPW protocol).
- Thermo Scientific™ SureTect™ Listeria species PCR Assay and Listeria monocytogenes PCR Assay to include an optional step for the removal of free DNA for infant formula, dairy products and industrial production environmental samples (in accordance with Protocol 24 LEB).
Our next Agri-Food Technical Board meetings will be held on 30 September and 1 October, and finally, 3 and 4 December 2026.
