1 Scope
This document establishes the general principle and the technical protocol for the
validation of alternative methods in the field of microbiological analysis of food, animal feeding stuff and environmental
and veterinary samples (see 5.1.1.2.1) for:
It also establishes the general principles of certification of these alternative methods, based on the validation protocol defined in this EN ISO 16140 (see 4.2).
Where an alternative method is used on a routine basis for internal laboratory use without the requirement to
meet (higher) external criteria of quality assurance, a less stringent comparative
validation of the alternative method than that set in this standard may be appropriate.