Paul Hancock BSc, MChemA, MRSC, FIFST
Biography
Paul Hancock joined the Government Chemist programme in July 2020 as Head of the Office of the Government Chemist, Referee Analyst and Nominated Officer.
Paul has 24 years’ experience of enforcement analytical chemistry (1995-2019), including 11 years’ experience as a public and agriculture analyst (2008-2019) and 8 years (2011-2019) as head of an official control laboratory. Prior to this Paul worked in environmental analysis and coal utilisation research (1991-1995), and has recent experience of the animal feed industry (2020).
His technical areas of expertise include high level interpretative skills in food safety and standards, general analytical chemistry and associated issues; working knowledge of ISO 17025 (UKAS) quality issues, ISO 9000 lead auditor qualified and he is a specialist in food law enforcement (labelling, allergens, health claims, composition, additives, GMOs, contaminants, consumer complaints).
Paul has also served on the Association of Public Analysts’ training committee for over 20 years, including as secretary and now as APA Training Officer. He has also used his experience to successfully mentor a number of candidates through the MChemA examination process.
Referee Analyst and Nominated Officer
Nominated officers have the overall responsibility for referee case supervision and prepare and sign Government Chemist certificates of analysis. Holding the statutory Mastership in Chemical Analysis qualification (MChemA), Paul acts as referee analyst leading on and managing the majority of referee cases.
Head of the Office of the Government Chemist (OGC)
As head of OGC Paul looks after a team of senior scientists who in turn are responsible for program management, delivery of referee casework, and the work of the Food and Consumer Products Testing unit which includes National Reference Laboratory (NRL) responsibilities.