Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BAS) hosted 23rd meeting of the technical committee ISO/TC 34/SC 12, Sensory Analysis, which was held from 24 to 25 October 2013, in hotel Europe and at the premises of the Institute. ISO/TC 34/SC 12, Sensory analysis, is a sub-committee of the International Committee ISO/TC 34, Food products, which operates under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The work of this Committee is based on the adoption of standards which define the area of sensory analysis in food production.

The meeting was attended by experts in the field of sensory (organoleptic) analysis of Argentina, France, China, Lithuania, Germany, USA, Serbia, Great Britain and the host, Bosnia and Herzegovina, that was represented by PhD Midhat Jasic from the Faculty of Technology in Tuzla and Biljana Baljaj, expert at the Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sensory analysis is a scientific discipline that applies principles of experimental design and statistical analysis on use of human senses (sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing) for the purpose of evaluating consumer products. Sensory analysis of food collects information that complement the data obtained during the instrumental analytical measurements of product quality. Systematics of sensory properties include three primary characteristics: appearance, aroma and sense of touch. In addition, the appearance includes color, size, shape, viscosity, etc. Aroma characteristic means smell, taste, flavor and sensation in the mouth that forms after eating, while touch implies texture, consistency, viscosity, etc. In order to perform sensory evaluation adequate conditions such as equipment and accessories for specialized expert evaluators should be provided. By doing so, optimal conditions for objective work of expert evaluators will be created because otherwise a subjective decision and irregular sensory characteristics of food can be made.

By organizing this meeting, the Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to raise awareness of the importance of the use of standards in the food production process. In addition, by their ongoing work and activities, the Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina is promoting the importance of standardization and thus seeks to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy is well prepared for the competition in the markets of the European Union, aiming at the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European integration process.