An Innovative Force in Food Security: Licensed Warehousing, Authorized Classification, and the Future of Expert Lab
Licensed warehousing and authorized classification stand out as critical pillars in the agriculture and food sectors. These systems are developed to ensure the safe and high-quality storage of products, subject to state-regulated processes. In this context, concepts like food safety, product quality, and sustainable agriculture are vital for both producers and consumers. Expert Laboratory, Turkey's first private sector authorized classifier and accredited laboratory, plays a pioneering role in this field with the services it offers under Bastak Group.
Licensed Warehousing and Authorized Classification
Licensed warehousing is a system designed to ensure that agricultural products are stored for extended periods under specific standards. This system requires products to be stored in appropriate conditions, such as the right temperature, humidity, and other factors, and for these products to be analyzed by authorized classifiers beforehand. Expert Laboratory is the first private laboratory authorized for licensed warehousing in Turkey, offering comprehensive services in this area. The laboratory determines the quality of products such as wheat, barley, corn, legumes, and oilseeds through physical, chemical, and microbiological analyses.
Licensed storage consists of several stages, and these processes ensure the safe and standardized storage of products:
- **Product Analysis and Classification:** Every product to be accepted into licensed warehouses must first be analyzed by an authorized classifier. These analyses include physical, chemical, and microbiological tests, and parameters such as quality, characteristics, moisture content, and protein levels are determined. Products are classified according to these analyses and accepted into licensed warehouses. This stage ensures that products meet national and international quality standards.
- **Sampling and Analysis:** Authorized classifier laboratories carefully analyze samples taken from products. Expert Laboratory, a leading lab in this field, contributes to licensed warehousing processes in Turkey as an authorized classifier. The samples are subjected to various analyses in the lab, and classification reports are issued. These reports determine whether the product will be accepted into licensed warehouses.
- **Storage and Preservation:** Products with positive classification reports are accepted into state-certified licensed warehouses. These warehouses are designed to provide all necessary conditions for long-term storage without deterioration. Factors such as temperature and humidity are controlled to prevent quality loss during storage. This process ensures that the products retain their value during trade and are minimally affected by price fluctuations.
- **Electronic Warehouse Receipts (ELÜS):** Once products are accepted into licensed warehouses, their owners are given Electronic Warehouse Receipts (ELÜS). ELÜS indicates that the products are in storage and that the owner can trade them. Producers can sell their products at better prices based on market conditions using these receipts. Additionally, these receipts can be used as collateral for loans, making it easier for small-scale farmers to access financing and supporting market stability.
- **Product Release and Delivery:** At the end of the storage period, products are rechecked by authorized classifiers before being released from the warehouse. Before the products are released, they undergo a final quality check. This step ensures that the products are delivered to the market without spoilage and with their original quality intact.
In the licensed warehousing system, authorized classifiers determine whether products meet quality standards before they are brought to market. This process creates a reliable trading environment for both producers and consumers. Producers can trade their products at better prices by documenting their quality through scientific analysis, while consumers gain access to reliable, high-quality products in the market. Expert Laboratory plays a key role in ensuring this trust in the industry, providing classification services for 3 million tons annually.
Food Safety and Quality Control
Food safety refers to the protection of food products from health risks throughout the production-to-consumption process. Continuous monitoring of products through physical, chemical, and microbiological analyses is essential to ensuring food safety. Expert Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art devices and a team of expert engineers for these analyses. The laboratory ensures food safety with internationally recognized analyses, providing assurance to food producers competing in both local and global markets.
In addition to food safety, food quality is crucial for consumer health. Expert Laboratory measures parameters such as protein, gluten, moisture, ash, and falling number, ensuring that products released to the market are safe and of high quality. These analyses are regularly audited under the laboratory’s accreditation certificate and approved by TÜRKAK (Turkish Accreditation Agency). As an accredited laboratory, Expert Laboratory offers internationally recognized analysis results in the fields of food safety and quality.
To enhance the international recognition of its services, Expert Laboratory is a member of BIPEA, an organization that provides inter-laboratory comparative analysis services globally. BIPEA membership is a significant international platform that verifies the accuracy and reliability of the laboratory’s analyses. Through BIPEA's comparative testing programs, Expert Laboratory regularly reviews the quality of its analyses and continuously strives for improvement. This membership is a key factor in the laboratory's selection by food producers and suppliers worldwide.
With more than 175 expert engineers, Expert Laboratory conducts over 300,000 tests annually, demonstrating its vast analytical capacity. These tests range from physical and chemical analyses of agricultural products' quality controls to comprehensive tests ensuring the microbiological safety of food. Moreover, the laboratory provides world-class services with its technological infrastructure and expert engineering team. The swift and accurate reporting of analysis results is another critical factor that boosts the laboratory’s reputation in the industry.
