Kastamonu University Central Research Laboratory (MERLAB) successfully passed the accreditation renewal audit conducted by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) on April 7-8, 2025. As a result of the investigation, the laboratory's compliance with the TS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard was reconfirmed, and the accreditation period was extended until 2029.

MERLAB was first accredited in 2021 for HMF and sugar parameters in honey according to the "TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories" standard. In the surveillance and scope extension review conducted on August 19, 2022, the accreditation was renewed until 2025; the number of accredited parameters was increased to 9 by adding pH, free acidity, diastase number, electrical conductivity, moisture, proline, and maltose determinations to the analysis parameters.

With the latest review, MERLAB has once again certified the accuracy and reliability of its services. The laboratory, which will continue to provide internationally valid analysis results to regional producers and researchers, thus aims to strengthen the quality of scientific studies.

In his evaluation of the issue, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, emphasized the importance of strengthening the university's research infrastructure, stating:

"MERLAB's successful completion of the accreditation process and renewal of its certificate until 2029 is a gain not only for our University but also for regional producers and researchers. This success reflects our university's quality and reliability-focused vision while also increasing the international validity of our scientific studies. I would like to thank all our professors and staff who contributed."