A laboratory that inspects the toxicity or efficiency of pesticides, for example, must obtain GEP approval if it wants its results to be recognised officially. In 2006, the management and assessment of conformity with good experimental practices was transferred to Cofrac.
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Assessing good experimental practices (GEP)
GEP approval: The assessment process in four steps
Anybody applying for approval for conducting officially-recognised tests sends an approval request to DGAL with a copy to Cofrac. This written request marks the start of the review of the application. For this, the request must specify the object of the application and the administrative information (identification of the candidate entity, contact details of the person in charge, etc.). Upon receipt of this letter of intent, Cofrac transmits to the applicant the application forms.
The initial assessment systematically includes an inspection visit to the central unit of the experimentation network and an assessment of all the sectors of activity for which the body is requesting approval. The team of assessors is proposed by Cofrac and submitted for acceptance to the candidate body.
The assessment can draw on various key elements :
- analysis of procedures, of operating methods, and of records gathered prior to the visit and consulted on site, documentary traceability of the services carried out ;
- interviews with personnel ;
- witnessing of biological experiments: weighing ;
- witnessing of current tests (preferably), or simulation of spraying, etc
Cofrac transmits the assessment reports to DGAL within three weeks after the end of the assessment. They are then reviewed by the GEP Committee (DGAL/Cofrac). Upon advice from this Committee, DGAL then notifies the bodies of the ministerial decision and sends a copy to Cofrac. The approval decision is issued within three months after the submission of the assessment report.
