PM 7/131 (1) Guidelines on the main tasks of Reference Laboratories for official plant pest diagnostics

摘要

In many countries diagnostics for regulated pests are performed in more than one laboratory. These are laboratories of the NPPO, of governmental agencies/institutes working for the NPPO and other laboratories authorized by the NPPO to perform diagnostic activities for regulated pests (see EPPO, 2016). In recent years, national Reference Laboratories have been established in countries to coordinate and harmonize activities of laboratories performing official plant pest diagnostics. European Union Reference Laboratories (EURL) have been established in the animal health sector (EU, 2004) and a similar system is currently being established in the plant health sector. The EPPO Working Party on Phytosani-tary Regulations consequently suggested that guidelines describing the tasks of Reference Laboratories should be established for official plant pest diagnostics to ensure harmonization across the EPPO region.