42) The Delegation of the United Kingdom while introducing the document pointed out the complexity of the matter and indicated that there were differences in the use of recovery factors: for example in the determination of aflatoxins recovery factors was often used, while for residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs the use of recovery factors was variable. The Delegation also indicated that differences regarding the use and the application of the recovery factors existed in the legislation of Member Governments and might create problems in trade.
43) Some delegations indicated that generalized use of recovery factors for each and every matrix would place substantial economic burden on food laboratories and would make it impractical, especially in the case of multi-residue analysis, e.g. pesticide residues. They pointed out that the decision to use or not to use the recovery factors should be left to chemical analysts to decide. However in all cases it should be specified whether the results had been corrected or not, and the method used to derive the correction should be provided.
44) Some delegations indicated that the aim of Codex was not to find the “best estimate of the result” while performing chemical analysis but to obtain comparable results, and that could be achieved by giving information on the application of the recovery factors and the methodology used for that purpose.
45) Many delegations recognised the scientific value of the Guidelines, but emphasised the limitations of the universal application of recovery factors in reporting analytical results. Amongst others it was pointed out that recovery rates were affected by different factors, such as processing or extraction and there were several areas where recovery factors were not applicable.
46) The Committee recognized that the acceptance of the first two sentences of Recommendation 1 in the IUPAC Guidelines would create difficulties, as correction of analytical results would then be a general requirement. However, the other recommendations were acceptable. The Committee decided to endorse the IUPAC, ISO and AOAC International Harmonized Guidelines for the Use of Recovery Information in Analytical Measurement with the exception of first two sentences of Recommendation 1[10] regarding the general request for correction. It agreed to recommend to the 24th Session of the Commission its adoption by reference for Codex purposes (see Appendix III).
