Every year Marine Scotland Science (MSS) devotes significant resources to making measurements in the marine environment. These measurements are used as a basis for protecting our seas, assuring the quality and safety of the fish and shellfish that we eat, for providing reliable information on the distribution and changes in the levels of harmful chemicals, and on the nature and distribution of fish diseases. Fish farms are also regularly inspected in order to maintain the status of Great Britain as an approved zone for various diseases of fish and shellfish.
A systematic approach to quality assurance of these measurements and inspections is essential to maintain confidence in the data obtained and to provide the necessary Quality Assurance to our customers who use this information.
MSS operates an extensive formal internal quality assurance system, and is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for a range of inspections and tests under the ISO 17020 and 17025 accreditation standards respectively. MSS is also implementing the Joint Code of Practice for Research for all its research activities.
How is Quality Managed at MSS?
In support of this commitment, the Director has appointed a Quality Manager, Data Manager and Technical Management team within MSS.
The Quality Manager advises on all MSS quality matters and has overall responsibility for ensuring that scientific work carried out under the Quality System at MSS is conducted in compliance with international standards.
The Technical Management team is responsible for:
- Implementing the quality system at MSS
- Monitoring its effectiveness
- Rectifying anomalies
- Ensuring that all technical operations at FRS are carried out in compliance with the quality standards
- The Data Manager is responsible for ensuring that data policies are implemented across FRS and are continuously updated.
MSS also contributes advice, data and information to the UK National Monitoring Programme (NMMP) under the auspices of the Marine Pollution Monitoring Management Group (MPMMG). The Green Book is the interactive manual of the current NMMP that provides details on the aims, objectives and operational information. There are three main analytical quality control subgroups underpinning the work of the NMMP:
Each year new methods are added to extend the scope of accreditation, and others may be removed as they become disused or out of date. The process includes formalising and documenting the methods and associated procedures, training staff, calibrating equipment and fully validating the methods as fit for purpose. The method is then assessed in depth by UKAS prior to accreditation being granted.
The Quality System is audited on a regular basis by a team of internal auditors to ensure that the accreditation requirements are met throughout the year:
Details of the scope of accreditation:
The MSS Quality System is a dynamic process and has developed since 1998, when MSS first gained accreditation, to its current scope. A major review of documentation, leading to the rationalisation and amalgamation of various methods, was completed during 2007.
Joint Code of Practice for Research
The Joint Code of Practice for Research was formulated by the main UK Government research funding bodies (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)) in 2004. The Code has subsequently been endorsed by all the devolved administrations.
MSS is currently introducing a range of systems across the organisation to ensure that the requirements of the Code are met. An internal audit system will be introduced to monitor compliance with the Code, and it is anticipated that external audits will also be commissioned by the funding bodies themselves.