Council Directive 2001/89/ECShow full title

2. The functions and duties of the Community reference laboratory for classical swine fever are: U.K.

(a)

to coordinate, in consultation with the Commission, the methods employed in the Member States for diagnosing classical swine fever, specifically by:

• storing and supplying cell cultures for use in diagnosis,

• typing, storing and supplying strains of classical swine fever virus for serological tests and the preparation of antisera,

• supplying standardised sera, conjugate sera and other reference reagents to the national laboratories in order to standardise the tests and reagents employed in the Member States,

• building up and holding a classical swine fever virus collection,

• organising periodic comparative tests of diagnostic procedures at Community level,

• collecting and collating data and information on the methods of diagnosis used and the results of tests carried out,

• characterising isolates of the virus by the most up-to-date methods available to allow greater understanding of the epizootiology of classical swine fever,

• keeping abreast of developments in classical swine fever surveillance, epizootiology and prevention throughout the world,

• retaining expertise on the virus causing classical swine fever and other pertinent viruses to enable rapid differential diagnosis,

• acquiring a thorough knowledge of the preparation and use of the products of veterinary immunology used to eradicate and control classical swine fever;

(b)

to make the necessary arrangements for training or re-training experts in laboratory diagnosis with a view to harmonising diagnostic techniques;

(c)

to have trained personnel available for emergency situations occurring within the Community;

(d)

to perform research activities and whenever possible coordinate research activities directed towards an improved control of classical swine fever.