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ANNEX II Responsibilities and tasks of the EU reference laboratory for bovine tuberculosis, additional to those laid down in Article 32(2) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004

1.The EU reference laboratory for bovine tuberculosis shall coordinate, in consultation with the Commission, the methods employed in the Member States for diagnosing bovine tuberculosis, in particular by:

(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 Union including typing;

(e)

organising periodical comparative tests of diagnostic procedures at Union 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 Union;

(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.