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Remit

The remit of the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) and of the National Reference Laboratories (NRL) is laid out in Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of 29 April 2004. The remit of the laboratory network relates to microbiological contamination of live bivalve molluscs. Particular emphasis is given to ensuring a standardised system throughout the European Community for the health checks currently required by Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of 29th April 2004 and for developing new procedures for more effective monitoring and control of viral contamination.

Essentially the EURL is responsible for:

  • information and guidance on relevant analytical methods
  • working with NRL's on the application of methods (by comparative testing in particular)
  • co-ordinating research into new methods
  • organising training courses and workshops
  • collaborating with third country laboratories
  • providing scientific and technical assistance to the European Commission
  • helping reference laboratories implement quality assurance systems (such as accreditation)

Essentially NRL's are responsible for :

  • co-ordinating activities of the various national laboratories in that Member State
  • assisting the Member State competent authority to organise a monitoring system for viral and bacteriological contamination
  • organising comparative tests between the various national laboratories in that Member State
  • disseminating information provided by the EURL

The Regulation Decision requires that NRL's and the EURL to collaborate with each other in a laboratory network to ensure a standardised system of health checks for bivalve molluscs operates throughout the European Union and to aid the introduction of new health checks for viral contamination. The Commission has developed a protocol to assist in the management of this collaboration (Commission protocol). This web site provides information on the activities of the laboratory network and technical information relevant to its operation.
 

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