Compressed air is indispensable in the laboratory! The use of the completely refurbished compressed air systems in the laboratories in Hamburg and Hameln not only increased operational safety, but the significantly reduced energy consumption saves costs and protects the climate. The quality of the compressed air also reaches a new level. This is indispensable, as the measuring equipment in the laboratories for chemical analysis and quality control of food samples is in operation around the clock. Many of the applications require particularly high-quality oil-free compressed air.

GBA Pharma Labs (Member of GBA Group) are announcing their new "state-of-the-art" building in Neuried, located in the west of Munich, where their nearby sites Graefelfing and Martinsried, will be merged.

Facts & Features:

• relocation is scheduled for the 1st Quarter of 2022
• Neuried is close to our previous locations
• Uninterrupted operations during relocation
• Laboratory area will be increased to 2,400 m2
• Total area will be doubled to 6,000 m2
• Our portfolio will remain unchanged at the new location
• Through bundling we can expand our capacities. e.g. our capacities for handling highly active substances such as cytostatics will be more than doubled

Every year, certain Christmas treats are specifically tested for undesirable contaminants: Acrylamide in gingerbread, speculoos biscuit and cinnamon stars or mineral oil residues in Advent calendar chocolate. According to the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), the undesirable production-related substance acrylamide potentially increases the risk of cancer. Critical for the mineral oil residues are the aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) which are also classified as potentially carcinogenic.

In the last years a positive trend was registered and fewer products were contaminated - does this trend continue?

CLINICAL TRIALS

With the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, the known conditions will change and pharmaceutical companies not prepared will face serious issues and uncertainties. No extension of the transition period has been requested, and according to a joint technical notice by the European Commission, EMA and HMA, no further prolongation beyond 2020 is possible. EU pharmaceutical law will no longer apply for the UK.

The so-called process contaminant acrylamide is an undesirable by-product that can be produced in food by certain thermal manufacturing processes. The absorption of acrylamide can have a genetic and carcinogenic potential.

Based on the view of the European Parliament that lower limits for acrylamide in baby and toddler food are possible, the limits proposed by the EU Commission were rejected by a large majority on the grounds that the proposed limits are too high. So it still remains exciting.