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Aquatic product evaluation

Our Aquatic Product Evaluation Group (APEG) offers development and assessment services for all major types of aquatic products used in the commercial arena, whether nationally or internationally.

APEG has contributed to the development of numerous safe, productive and profitable new products being used by aquaculture operations around the world. These include vaccines, veterinary medicines and feed additives. Client confidentiality and a high-quality service are assured.

The range of bespoke services offered, based on our wealth of experience, include:

  • product safety and efficacy evaluations
  • compliance with relevant regulatory protocols and procedures
  • high-quality data for registration packages
  • protocol-design advice
  • specialist equipment, facilities and expertise
  • modern world-class good laboratory practice (GLP)-compliant sea and freshwater aquarium facilities capable of dealing with exotic pathogens
  • over 220 computer-controlled tanks in 14 isolation suites for marine and freshwater studies on invertebrate, fish and amphibian species, including crustaceans
  • internationally recognised disease reference resources.

Laboratory testing range 

APEG offer product safety and efficacy-testing for a wide range of products intended for use in aquaculture. Additionally, regulatory and bespoke environmental toxicology-testing services include:

  • disinfectants
  • probiotics
  • immunostimulants
  • vaccines
  • antibiotics
  • feed additives
  • prebiotics
  • antiparasitics
  • fungicides
  • other chemicals

We conduct disinfectant testing to specified standards, finished product batch-testing, target safety, residue depletion and radio-labelled metabolism studies, and efficacy-testing against diseases from around the world. We are also able to undertake a range of environmental and ecotoxicity studies for legislative drivers such as REACH.

As a National Reference Laboratory we are uniquely placed to ensure the health status of all test fish, and have a number of sources of specific pathogen-free fish for specific protocol use.

We are the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Collaborating Centre for Information on Aquatic Animal Diseases, and our media preparation services are ISO/IEC 17025 standard accredited. 

All our work can be undertaken to GLP standards and is undertaken by very experienced scientific and technical staff, including trained study directors. Due to the nature of the work, our prices are generated to suit our customer's requirements.

For further information about our range of services and prices, email apeg@cefas.co.uk.

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Last Modified: 24 June 2011