About National Reference Laboratory

National Reference Laboratory

Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) is as National Reference Laboratory (NRL) responsible for the technical support of Official laboratories and authorities, and quality assurance. WFSR has been appointed as NRL by the ministries of LNV en VWS/MZ in relation to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 for:

  1. Milk en milkproducts
  2. Marine biotoxins
  3. Animal proteins in feedingstuffs
  4. Residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal origin (all substances groups in Annex I of Directive 96/23/EC)
  5. Additives for use in animal nutrition
  6. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
  7. Residues of pesticides (all matrices and methods)
  8. Metals and nitrogenous compounds in feed and food
  9. Mycotoxins and plant toxins in feed and food
  10. Processing contaminants
  11. Halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in feed and food
  12. Foodborne viruses

The tasks of a NRL are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/625, these tasks are:

(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 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;

 (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).

Furthermore WFSR is appointed as NRL for the water content of poultry meat in relation to Regulation (EC) no 543/2008.