• Observing and modelling
• Marine Climate Change Centre (MC3)
• Ecosystems and biodiversity
• Assessing human impacts
• Animal health and food safety
  • Aquatic animal disease
  • Food safety
    • Algal toxins surveillance
    • Classification and microbiological monitoring
    • Microbiology and human health
    • Outbreaks of illness
    • Purification plants
    • Reference Laboratory functions
    • Sanitary surveys
    • Shellfisheries water quality
  • Environment and animal health
• Fisheries information

Related links

• EURL - bivalve molluscs
• NRL - bivalve molluscs
• EURL - crustacean diseases
• OIE Collaborating Centre

Reference Laboratory functions

Cefas is designated by the European Commission as the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL), and by the Food Standards Agency as the UK's National Reference Laboratory (NRL), for monitoring bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs.

The EURL and the NRL laboratory network, comprising one NRL per European member state or European Free Trade Association (EFTA), work together towards understanding and reducing microbiological contamination of live bivalve molluscs to improve consumer safety. There is particular emphasis on ensuring that standardised systems are used to check the quality of bivalve shellfish.

The network also collaborates in research initiatives, training and quality-assurance programmes to ensure effective monitoring of shellfish harvesting areas and the control of potentially harmful viral and bacterial contamination.

The remit of the EURL and NRLs is set out in European Commission Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, of 29 April 2004. The main responsibilities are:

EURL

• information and guidance on relevant analytical methods
• working with NRLs 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).

Further information about our activities as the EURL, and a range of downloadable information, is available from our dedicated EURL website: www.eurlcefas.org/.

NRLs

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

Further information about our activities as the NRL, and a range of downloadable information, is available from our dedicated NRL website: /nrl.