Intro​​duction: ​​

The Agricultural Chemistry Division (ACD) was founded in 1940. It was then known as the Chemical Division of the Department of Agriculture  of the Colony of Mauritius. In 1955, the Chemical Division wa​s restyled as the Agricultural Chemistry Division. The Agricultural Chemistry Division, located in Réduit, is a registered laboratory under the aegis of Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security. It is mainly responsible for providing analytical support services to the other di​visions of the Agricultural Services, to Parastatal Bodies,  to private sectors and to public in general requiring chemical analysis of samples related to agricultural activities.  ACD performs technical, advisory and regulatory functions and also participates in the decision-making process of the Ministry.

Vi​​​sion: ​​

To be an effective analytical support service provider to the farming community and agricultural sector for a sustainable agricultural development.

Missi​​on:

To provide reliable and timely analytical support to the farming community for the chemical analysis of agricultural materials for  good agricultural practice, food production and safety.

Mandate :

​The Agricultural Chemistry Division operates a laboratory, providing analytical support services (chemical analysis) to the agricultural communities and livestock breeders. It also issues licenses for the wholesale and retail sale of chemical fertilisers.​​

Activities:

​The Agricultural Chemistry Division provides services for chemical analysis of agricultural materials including water, soil, plants (vegetable and fruits), fertilisers, feed and fodder, compost, farm manure, nuts, maize (corn), rice, honey, fish and fish products for various parameters including nutritional composition, major & minor nutrients, residues and contaminants. The purpose of the chemical analysis is to help the growers (planters) and farmers to determine the soil fertility status of their land, the suitability of water for irrigation, the mineral status of plants/leaves/vegetables and the nutritional value of the animal feed and fodder. The analyses also help in monitoring the presence of residues and contaminants in the agricultural products.​

Sect​​​ions Tests (anal​ysis​​) details ​Accred​itatio​n ​Importa​nt Notes Permits an​d Licenses

​Tests (analysis) details:	​​	​
​More details on these tests (analysis) can be found in the table​ below:		​
​Test/Analysis	​Brief Description	​Carried out on the following sample types:
Pesticide Residues​	Determination of Pesticide Residues (QuEChERS method for multi-residue Analysis of Pesticides Residues by LCMS-MS). More than 150 molecules of pesticides can be identified, as per annex, where the list of all the pesticide residues and the reporting limits are mentioned. ​Related Law/Regulation enforcement:          Use of Pesticide Act 2018​	Fruits, vegetables, fish, honey and water
Mycotoxins - Aflatoxins (B, G & Total) - Ochratoxin (OTA) - M1	Determination of the products using High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method with Photochemical Reactor and fluorescence Detector.	Nuts, animal feeds and spices. Cereals and pulses. Milk
Heavy Metals (Inorganic)	Determination of Lead, Cadmium and Total Mercury in Fish and Fishery Products using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) for analysis.	Fish and fishery products.
Total Volatile Basic -Nitrogen (TVB-N) (Inorganic)	Determination of the Concentration of Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVB-N) in Fish and Fishery Products. Samples are analysed by automatic steam distillation and titration using a Kjeltec apparatus.	Fish and fishery products.
Histamine	Determination of Histamine in Fish Sample using High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method with Diode Arrays Detection (HPLC-DAD)	Fish and fishery products
Honey/ Sugars	Determination of Sugars (Fructose, Glucose and Sucrose) in Honey by HPLC with Refractive Index Detection. Determination of Moisture Content in Honey using Moisture Analyser. Determination of pH and Electrical Conductivity in Honey. Determination of Ash content, Brix.	Honey and Fruit juices/nectars.
Ethephon	Determination of Ethephon by LCMS-MS.	Tomatoes and Pineapple
Soil and Fertiliser	(A) Determination of Moisture content Determination of pH Determination of Electrical Conductivity Determination of Nitrogen Determination of Phosphorus Determination of Potassium Determination of Organic Carbon Determination of Minor elements (Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Iron, Manganese and Zinc)   (B) Determination of Moisture content Determination of Nitrogen Determination of Phosphorus Determination of Potassium Related Law/Regulation enforcement:  Chemical Fer​​​tilizers Control Act 1980​	Soil, compost, farmyard manure, poultry manure, organic residues or waste               Fertilisers
Plant	Determination of Nitrogen Determination of Phosphorus Determination of Potassium Determination of Minor elements (Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Iron, Manganese and Zinc) Determination of Nitrate	Plant tissues
Feed and Fodder	Determination of Dry matter Determination of Crude Protein Determination of Crude Fibre Determination of Crude Fat (Ether Extract) Determination of Ash Determination of Calcium Determination of Magnesium Determination of Phosphorus Determination of Acid Detergent Fibre Determination of Acid Detergent Lignin Determination of Neutral Detergent Fibre Determination of Copper	Fodder, animal feed and pet food.
Tea	Determination of Total Ash Determination of Water Soluble Ash Determination of Acid Insoluble Ash Determination of Alkalinity of Soluble Ash Determination of Water Extract Determination of Crude Fibre	Tea
​	​	​

​​​​ The Food Technology Laboratory: An Accredited Laboratory

The Food Technology Laboratory is a laboratory accredited by MAURITAS.
The chemistry laboratory in the FTL building is equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus and equipment for chemical analysis as listed below:

Liquid Chromatograph with mass spectrometry (LCMSMS), Gas Chromatograph (GC), High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC),
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), Kjeltec Auto Distillation Apparatus.

 

Quality Assurance

As part of its quality assurance for its test results, the Laboratory participates regularly in Proficiency Testing programs 

organized by internationally recognized institutions like:

FAPAS	Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme	From UK
BIPEA	Bureau Inter Professionel d'Etudes Analytiques	From France
WEPAL	Wageningen Evaluation programme for Analytical Laboratories	From The Netherlands
APTECA	Aflatoxin Proficiency Testing and Control in Africa	From Kenya
NMISA	National Metrology Institute of South Africa	From South Africa

 

Proficiency Testing (PT) is a program wherein multiple samples are periodically sent to a group of laboratories for analysis,
with an aim to evaluate the laboratory's performance, regarding the testing quality of samples.

Important Notes: 

• Fees per test, per sample

The price per sample for the different tests carried out at the Agricultural Chemistry Division can be found in the link below.

Link: Indicative Fees charged by the Divisio n for the different types of services

• Information for customer

Link     : View Information for Customer and Sample Acceptance at Reception

• Submission of samples and Request for analysis

All samples for analysis must be accompanied with a duly signed request for analysis.

When the samples are submitted to the laboratory, the request for analysis should mention:

• the nature of the sample, e.g. soil, plant, water, feeds etc.
• the date of submission of the samples
• the number of samples
• the analysis to be carried out, i.e. the parameters to be determined (e.g. nitrogen or phosphorus in soil).

Samples should be properly labelled and submitted in sufficient quantities and appropriate containers (See Information for Customer above).

Samples will be received in the laboratory on working days during 09.00 – 12.00 hrs and 13.00 – 15.00 hrs .

Perishable items (e.g. fresh vegetables, fruits, leaves etc.) should not be sent on the afternoon of Fridays or on the eve of public holidays.
Samples that are not in good condition to be analysed, that is, rotten or perished, will not be accepted for analysis.

 

You can download the application form for submission of samples below.

Link: Download application form for submission of samples for analysis.

Non-sugar crop growers and livestock breeders may contact FAREI for submission of their samples.

 

Permits and Licenses:

Application for licenses of retailers and wholesalers for the sale of chemical fertilisers are done at the Agricultural Chemistry Division.

Download the required form, for same, through the link below.

Link: Download applicati on form for license for the sale of chemical fertilisers to wholesalers and retailers

Link: Indicative Fees charged by the Divisio n for the different types of services

Contact Us	​​
Contact Person: Position: Tel No: Fax: E-mail:	Mrs. H. DOWLUT Principal Scientific Officer (230) 466 1435/1420 - 465 7472 (230) 466-1559 moa-agric-chem@govmu.org hdowlut@govmu.org