xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"

TITLE IIIU.K.REFERENCE LABORATORIES AND REFERENCE CENTRES

Article 101U.K.Responsibilities and tasks of national reference laboratories

1.National reference laboratories shall, in their area of competence:

[F1(a)where appropriate—

(i)collaborate with other national and international laboratories;

(ii)participate in inter-laboratory comparative tests organised by the laboratories referred to in point (i), or by proficiency test providers accredited to ISO/IEC 17043;]

(b)coordinate the activities of official laboratories designated in accordance with Article 37(1) with a view of harmonising and improving the methods of laboratory analysis, test or diagnosis and their use;

(c)where appropriate, organise inter-laboratory comparative testing or proficiency tests between official laboratories, ensure an appropriate follow-up of such tests and inform the competent authorities of the results of such tests and follow-up;

[F2(d)provide scientific and technical assistance to the competent authorities and official laboratories;]

(e)provide within the scope of their mission scientific and technical assistance to the competent authorities for the implementation of MANCPs referred to in Article 109 and of coordinated control programmes adopted in accordance with Article 112;

(f)where relevant, validate the reagents and lots of reagents, establish and maintain up-to-date lists of available reference substances and reagents and of manufacturers and suppliers of such substances and reagents;

(g)where necessary, conduct training courses for the staff of official laboratories designated under Article 37(1); and

(h)assist actively the [F3competent authorities] in the diagnosis of outbreaks of foodborne, zoonotic or animal diseases or of pests of plants and in case of non-compliance of consignments, by carrying out confirmatory diagnoses, characterisation and epizootic or taxonomic studies on pathogen isolates or pest specimens.

[F42.The appropriate authority may make regulations prescribing additional tasks and responsibilities for national reference laboratories, provided that these tasks and responsibilities are limited to those made necessary by new or emerging risks, new or emerging animal diseases or pests of plants or new legal requirements.]

Textual Amendments