Sensory testing is a special type of testing where the measuring equipment is a group of people (panel) whose reactions to food (or other materials) characteristics, as perceived by the senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing, are evoked, measured and analysed. An example of sensory testing is the organoleptic assessment of virgin olive oil according to the Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91, annex XII.

Sampling is a significant issue as it is where a sample is taken from a sampling target, tested by a laboratory that will issue a report where the properties measured in the sample are attributed to the sampling target, e.g. perform a sensory testing to olive oil packages, and relate the results to the batch of olive oil packed in a specific day by a production unit.

The importance of sampling is also emphasized for the sensory testing, not only regarding the need to ensure representativeness of the sampling target, but to ensure that sensory properties of perishable products remain stable until the test.

The document EA-04/09: Accreditation For Sensory Testing Laboratories provides guidance to National Accreditation Bodies (NABs) and laboratories regarding which types of sensory tests can be accredited. Also the document further specifies requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17025 in the field of sensory testing regarding the critical resource of staff (most critical in sensory testing) including the sensory experts assessors and the panel leader, as well as other resources such as installation-environment, equipment and traceability. Other areas of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard covered are the method validation/verification, including the uncertainty and the validity of data, as well as the technical records and information system.

A great effort regarding the 2^nd revision of EA-4/09 was made in 2017 but the document was published before the new edition of ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Consequently, issues regarding the risk based approach, traceability of measurements, the declaration of conformity as well as the latest developments in the field, remain to be taken into consideration.

Therefore, a new revision has started by a dedicated Task Force Group (TFG) of the EA Laboratory Committee, with Elisa Gredilla (ENAC, Spanish NAB) as convenor.