While the EFSA standard is very specific in its design and purpose, it is a systematic well designed standard with both a syntax and semantics. The standard appears to be used exclusively for the transmission of test results from member states to EFSA, and no mention is made in the publications of any software for data exchange (although there is a web interface for uploading and validation of XML messages). The expected data format is either Excel or XML, although there are extensive XML Schema files to provide examples and documentation. Particularly significant in this standard are controlled vocabularies for product types (down to types of vegetables), agricultural methods of production (e.g. Battery production, Free range production, Organic production, Wild or gathered or hunted). Also very interesting is the concept of “Sampling Point” with extensive possibilities here (e.g. Wholesale, Retail, Import activities, Packing centre, Re-wrapping centre, Rail transport, Water transport, Catering, Take-away or fast-food outlet) in effect mapping all possible stages in the food system. Finally there is a list of over 2000 parameters (or analyte) that can be tested for (e.g. various types of Salmonella). This is an impressive, well designed standard, with a major organisation with legal authority backing it. The extensive use of hierarchical controlled vocabularies makes this a standard which could easily be formalised as RDF/OWL and aligned with other vocabularies. First assessment made by Christopher Brewster.