EU Reference Laboratories (EU-RLs)

EU Reference Laboratories (EU-RLs) aim to ensure high-quality, uniform testing in the EU and support Commission activities on risk management and risk assessment in the area of laboratory analysis.

Regulation EC 882/2004 – list of EU-RLs:

• Food and feed – Annex VII of the regulation;
• Animal health and zootechnics - Annex VIII.

The Commission can establish new EU-RLs or change their designation.

Functions

• Provide National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) with analytical and reference methods, and coordinate their application;
• Train NRL staff and experts from developing countries;
• Assist the Commission scientifically and technically e.g. when EU countries contest analyses results;
• Coordinate the methods for diagnosing diseases in EU countries and diagnose disease outbreaks;
• Collaborate on diagnosis methods for animal diseases with laboratories in non-EU countries where such diseases prevail.