Europa - Safety of Food Products - Community Reference Laboratories in the field of Veterinary Public Health (Biological Risk)

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EUROPA European Commission DG Health and Consumers Overview

Food Safety

Safety of Food Products Microbiological Risks

Community Reference Laboratories in the field of Veterinary Public Health (Biological Risks)

Biological hazards such as bacteria, viruses or prions are present in food, in particular in products of animal origin. Salmonella in poultry, Listeria monocytogenes in milk products, ASP in live molluscs, BSE from cattle are pose serious risks to public health. In order to co-ordinate detection and monitoring of certain biological hazards efficiently, the Commission created a network of National Reference Laboratories co-ordinated by Community Reference Laboratories (CRL), responsible for setting up EU-wide standards for testing, routine procedures and reliable testing methods.

The Community Reference Laboratories with scientific and technical expertise within the areas of animal health, public health and zootechnics have been designated in a number of Decisions, Directives and Regulations. Within the framework of Council Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field of 26 June 1990, these laboratories may receive Community financial aid for fulfilling duties and functions specified in Council legislation.

As regards the veterinary public health sector, the following CRLs have been designated in the area of biological risks:

Milk and milk products (Council Directive 92/46/EEC of 16 June 1992, Art. 28, Annex D) ;
Epidemiology of zoonoses (Council Directive 92/117/EEC of 17 December 1992, Art. 13, Annex IV) ;
Salmonella (Council Directive 92/117/EEC of 17 December 1992, Art. 13, Annex IV) ;
Marine biotoxines (Council Decision 93/383/EEC of 14 June 1993, Articles 3 and 4) ;
Bacteriological and viral contaminants of molluscs (Council Decision 1999/313/EC of 29 April 1999, Articles 3 and 4) ;
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001, Annex X, Chapter B).

	List of CRLs responsible for biological risks and workprogrammes for 2003 (332KB)
	Workprogrammes for CRLs responsible for the Biological risks sector (2002) (296KB)
	Workprogramme for CRLs responsible for the residues sector (July 2001 - June 2002) ( 302 KB)

Safety of Food Products Microbiological Risks
FOOD SAFETY | PUBLIC HEALTH | CONSUMER PROTECTION | DIRECTORATE GENERAL "HEALTH & CONSUMER PROTECTION"

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