National Reference Laboratories
Friday 5 November 2010
The UK National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) network is responsible for setting up EU-wide standards for routine procedures and reliable testing methods in the areas of feed and food and animal health. Core functions of the appointed UK NRLs are effectively those cited in Article 33 of the EC Regulation 882/2004 (see link below).
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is designated as a 'Competent Authority' for the purposes of Regulation (EC) 882/2004 on Official Feed and Food Controls in the UK. In order to provide technical and scientific support for the official control framework, the European Commission has created a network of European Union Reference Laboratories (EU-RLs). Individual EU Member States designate one or more NRLs for each EU-RL.
The NRLs within the UK are divided into:
- NRLs for feed and food (FSA and Defra)
- NRLS for animal health and live animals (Defra)
The following list gives the details of UK NRLs in food and feed and the responsible department:
National Reference Laboratories for feed and food in the UK
| Subject and responsible department | NRL | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Additives for use in animal feeds FSA |
LGC Ltd www.lgc.co.uk |
Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY Tel: 020 8943 7000 |
| Analysis and testing of zoonoses (salmonella) Defra/FSA |
For animals: (Defra) Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) Weybridge www.defra.gov.uk/vla |
Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Weybridge KT15 3NB Tel: 01932 341111 enquiries@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk |
| In food: (FSA) Health Protection Agency (HPA), Colindale www.hpa.org.uk |
Centre for Infections, Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Pathogens Dept. 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ Tel: 020 8327 6117 infections@hpa.org.uk |
|
| Animal proteins in feedingstuffs Defra |
Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) www.defra.gov.uk/vla |
Luddington, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 9SJ Tel: 01789 750212 luddington@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk |
| Antimicrobial resistance FSA |
Health Protection Agency (HPA) www.hpa.org.uk |
Centre for Infections, Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Pathogens Dept. 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ Tel: 020 8327 6117 infections@hpa.org.uk |
| Campylobacter FSA/Defra |
For food: (FSA) Health Protection Agency (HPA) www.hpa.org.uk |
Centre for Infections, Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Pathogens Dept. 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ Tel: 020 8327 6117 infections@hpa.org.uk |
| For animals: (Defra) Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) Weybridge www.defra.gov.uk/vla |
New Haw, Addlestone, Weybridge KT15 3NB Tel: 01932 341111 enquiries@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk |
|
| Coagulase positive Staphylococci, including Staphylococcus aureus FSA |
Health Protection Agency (HPA) www.hpa.org.uk |
Centre for Infections, Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Pathogens Dept. 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ Tel: 020 8327 6117 infections@hpa.org.uk |
| Dioxins and PCBs in feed and food FSA |
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
| Escherichia coli, including Verotoxigenic E.coli (VTEC) FSA |
Health Protection Agency (HPA) www.hpa.org.uk |
Centre for Infections, Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Pathogens Dept. 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ Tel: 020 8327 6117 infections@hpa.org.uk |
| Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) FSA |
LGC Ltd www.lgc.co.uk |
Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY Tel: 020 8943 7000 |
| Heavy metals in feed and food FSA |
For feed: LGC Ltd www.lgc.co.uk |
Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY Tel: 020 8943 7000 |
| For food: Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
|
| Listeria monocytogenes FSA |
Health Protection Agency (HPA) www.hpa.org.uk |
Centre for Infections, Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Pathogens Dept. 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ Tel: 020 8327 6117 infections@hpa.org.uk |
| Materials and articles intended to come in contact with food FSA |
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
| Milk and milk products FSA |
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI-NI) www.afbini.gov.uk |
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX Tel: 028 9052 5689 info@afbini.gov.uk |
| Monitoring of marine biotoxins | Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI-NI) www.afbini.gov.uk |
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Division, Shellfish Toxin Unit – Stormant, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT4 3SD Tel: 028 9052 5785 nrl.mb@afbini.gov.uk |
| Monitoring the viral and bacteriological contamination of bivalve molluscs FSA |
The Laboratory of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) www.cefas.co.uk/nrl.aspx |
Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, The Nothe, Weymouth DT4 8UB Tel: 01305 206600 |
| Mycotoxins FSA |
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
| Parasites (in particular Trichinella, Echinococcus and Anisakis) FSA |
For Trichinella and Echinococcus: Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) Weybridge www.defra.gov.uk/vla |
New Haw, Addlestone, Weybridge KT15 3NB Tel: 01932 341111 enquiries@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk |
| For Anisakis: Contract being negotiated with CEFAS |
||
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) FSA |
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
| Residues of pesticides - Cereals and feedingstuffs Defra |
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
| Residues of pesticides - Food of animal origin and commodities with high fat content Defra |
LGC Ltd www.lgc.co.uk |
Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY Tel: 020 8943 7000 |
| Residues of pesticides - Fruits and vegetables, including commodities with high water and high acid content Defra |
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
| Residues of pesticides - Single residue methods Defra |
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
| Residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal origin for the residues listed in Annex I, Group A 1, 2, 3, 4, Group B 2(d) and Group B 3(d) to Directive 96/23/EC Defra |
For A1, A2, A3, A4: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) www.afbini.gov.uk |
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX Tel: 028 9025 5689 info@afbini.gov.uk |
| For Group B 2(d) and B 3(d): LGC Ltd http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY Tel: 020 8943 7000 |
|
| Residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal origin for the residues listed in Annex I, Group B1, A 6 and B 3(e) and carbadox and olaquindox to Directive 96/23/EC Defra |
For A 6 (Nitrofurans and nitroimidazoles), B2(f) (carbox and olaquindox): Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) www.afbini.gov.uk |
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX Tel: 028 9025 5689 info@afbini.gov.uk |
| For A6 (Chloramphenicol and substances in honey) and B1: Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
|
| For B3(e): LGC Ltd www.lgc.co.uk |
Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY Tel: 020 8943 7000 |
|
| Residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal origin for the residues listed in Annex I, Group A 5 and Group B 2(a), (b), (e) to Directive 96/23/EC Defra |
For A 5 and B2(b) nicarbazin: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) www.afbini.gov.uk |
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Division, Newforge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX Tel: 028 9025 5689 info@afbini.gov.uk |
| For B2(a) and (b) ionophores: Food and Environment Research Agency- FERA http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk |
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ Tel: 01904 462000 info@fera.gsi.gov.uk |
|
| For B2(e): Please contact the Veterinary Medicines Directorate http://www.vmd.gov.uk |
||
| Residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal origin for the residues listed in Annex I, Group B 3(c) to Directive 96/23/EC Defra |
LGC Ltd www.lgc.co.uk |
Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY Tel: 020 8943 7000 |
| Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies Defra |
Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) Weybridge www.defra.gov.uk/vla |
Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Weybridge, KT15 3NB Tel: 01932 357564 tseeucrl@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk |
External links The Food Standards Agency has no responsibility for the content of external websites
DEFRA - Animal Health and welfare
DEFRA - Animal Health and welfare
Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and welfare rules