An electrochemical biosensor for the determination of lysine to be used for rapid evaluation of food quality has been developed. Platinum electrodes have been coated by electropolymerisation with 1,2-diaminobenzene (1.2-DAB) using cyclic voltammetry. The reduction in the oxidation of interferents compared with the bare platinum electrode was 100% for ascorbic acid, 99% for acetaminophen and 99% for cysteine. The enzyme L-lysine-α-oxidase was then immobilised onto the polymer layer by passive adsorption and a calibration curve for lysine constructed. This gave a linear range of 1 x 10 - 5 mol/l to 1 x 10 - 3 mol/l and a limit of detection of 2 x 10 - 7 mol/l.