Under Regulation (EU) 2017/625, Article 100, Member States are required to designate National Reference Laboratories (NRL) for each European Union Reference Laboratory.
In 2006 this laboratory was appointed and continues to be EU NRL for Mycotoxins and Plant Toxins, Processing Contaminants and Food Contact Materials.
The Cork Public Analyst`s Laboratory was appointed and continues to be the NRL for Metals and Nitrogenous Compounds.
The responsibilities and tasks of a NRL include:
(a) collaborate with the European Union reference laboratories, and participate in training courses and in inter-laboratory comparative tests organised by these laboratories;
(b) coordinate the activities of official laboratories designated in accordance with Article 37(1) with a view of to harmonise and improve 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;
(d) ensure the dissemination to the competent authorities and official laboratories of information that the European Union reference laboratory supplies;
(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 assist actively the Member State having designated them 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 specimen
Last updated 03/11/2017
