Birmingham-based Law Laboratories (Law Labs) has expanded its resources with investment in two new pesticide testing systems.

The testing facility, which supplies services to all the major multiples as well as several importers, has installed new systems from Varian to cope with imminent change in the way EU Maximum Residue Levels of pesticides are set and to handle increasing use of new or traditionally difficult-to-test compounds. Law Labs has installed Triple Quad Mass Spectrometers to enable analysts to identify and quantify residues of a range of some 400 pesticide compounds at sub part-billion levels. Procedures for sample preparation have been sped up and selectivity of mass specifications has also increased.

Don Brown, Law Labs' pesticide manager said:

"With continuing concern from consumers over the use of pesticides and residues in food, retailers are keen to be able to assure their customers that their products are safe and need testing that is relevant to the particular batch of product; and need results fast. Law Laboratories has responded to the market by making this significant investment which will provide comprehensive and rapid residue screening for pesticides using the latest methods, expertise and technology available."