1.To coordinate, in consultation with the Commission, the methods employed in the Member States for diagnosing rabies, in particular by:U.K.

typing, storing and supplying strains of rabies virus;

preparing, controlling and supplying international standard sera and other reference reagents to the national reference laboratories in order to standardise the tests and reagents used in the Member States;

(c)

validating reference reagents including antigens and national standard sera submitted by the national reference laboratories;

(d)

building up and maintaining a sera bank and a collection of rabies virus, and maintaining a database of strains isolated across the Community, including typing;

(e)

organising periodical comparative tests of diagnostic procedures at Community level and operating laboratory proficiency tests of national reference laboratories;

(f)

collecting and collating data and information on the methods of diagnosis used and the results of tests carried out in the Community;

(g)

characterising rabies virus by the most up-to-date methods available to allow a greater understanding of the epidemiology of that disease;

(h)

keeping abreast of developments in rabies surveillance, epidemiology and prevention throughout the world;

(i)

acquiring a thorough knowledge of the preparation and use of the products of veterinary immunology used to eradicate and control rabies including the evaluation of vaccines.

2.To facilitate the harmonisation of techniques throughout the Community, in particular specifying standard test methodologies.U.K.

3.To organise workshops for the benefit of national reference laboratories as agreed in the work-programme and annual budget referred to in Articles 2 to 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 156/2004(1), including training of experts from the Member States and, as appropriate, from third countries, in new analytical methodologies.U.K.

4.To provide technical assistance to the Commission and, upon its request, to participate in international fora relating to rabies, concerning in particular the standardisation of analytical diagnostic methods and their implementation.U.K.

5.To perform research activities and, whenever possible, coordinate research activities directed towards the improved control and eradication of rabies, in particular by:U.K.

(a)

carrying out or collaborating with national reference laboratories in carrying out test validation trials;

(b)

providing scientific advice to the Commission and collecting information and reports associated with the activities of the Community reference laboratory.

ANNEX IIU.K.CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS OF THE COMMUNITY REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS

In addition to the general functions and duties of Community reference laboratories in the animal health sector pursuant to Article 32(2) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, the Community reference laboratory for bovine tuberculosis shall have the responsibilities and tasks set out in points 1 to 5.

(1)To coordinate, in consultation with the Commission, the methods employed in the Member States for diagnosing bovine tuberculosis, in particular by:U.K.

(a)

typing, storing and supplying strains of Mycobacterium sp. causing tuberculosis in animals;

(b)

preparing, controlling and supplying reference reagents to the national reference laboratories in order to standardise the tests and reagents used in the Member States;

(c)

validating reference reagents including antigens and tuberculins submitted by the national reference laboratories for bovine tuberculosis;

(d)

building up and maintaining a collection of Mycobacterium sp. causing tuberculosis in animals, and maintaining a database of strains isolated across the Community including typing;

(e)

organising periodical comparative tests of diagnostic procedures at Community level and operating laboratory proficiency tests of national reference laboratories;

(f)

collecting and collating data and information on the methods of diagnosis used and the results of tests carried out in the Community;

(g)

characterising Mycobacterium sp. causing tuberculosis in animals by the most up-to-date methods available to allow a greater understanding of the epidemiology of that disease;

(h)

keeping abreast of developments in bovine tuberculosis surveillance, epidemiology and prevention throughout the world;

(i)

acquiring a thorough knowledge of the preparation and use of the products of veterinary immunology used to eradicate and control bovine tuberculosis including the evaluation of vaccines.

(2)To facilitate the harmonisation of techniques throughout the Community, in particular specifying standard test methodologies.U.K.

(3)To organise workshops for the benefit of national reference laboratories as agreed in the work-programme and annual budget referred to in Articles 2 to 4 of Regulation (EC) No 156/2004, including training of experts from the Member States and, as appropriate, from third countries, in new analytical methodologies.U.K.

(4)To provide technical assistance to the Commission and, upon its request, to participate in international fora relating to the diagnostic of bovine tuberculosis, concerning in particular the standardisation of analytical diagnostic methods and their implementation.U.K.

(5)To perform research activities and, whenever possible, co-ordinate research activities directed towards the improved control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis, in particular by:U.K.

(a)