LGC Group, formerly the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, is an international life sciences measurement and tools company.

The Inland Revenue Laboratory, as it was now known, was appointed a Referee Analyst under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict.

[6] The head was Dr Edward Thorpe, with the title of Principal Chemist, who expanded its activities to include health problems caused by the match and lead-glazing industries.

[4][5] The analysis of tobacco remained a substantial part of the work, being greatly increased during World War I because of supplies to troops.

[8][9] This gave it the remit to seek outside work (which it already did to a significant extent) and earn income to fully cover costs, while having more management autonomy.

[4] As part of a general programme of privatisation of public services by the government, Michael Heseltine announced that Laboratory of the Government Chemist would become an independent, non-profit company limited by guarantee, or could possibly be bought by a company or institution which could show that it would remain sufficiently independent to fulfil its statutory duties.

A consortium of Laboratory employees, the Royal Society of Chemistry and 3i put together a bid in 1995, which was accepted, taking the form of a management buyout.