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Regional SPS Reference Laboratories

(1) The Committee may select such number of national SPS related laboratories as may be necessary, in accordance with such criteria and modalities as the Council shall determine, as SPS regional reference laboratories, for the effective implementation of SPS measures in the Common Market.

(2) The functions of the regional reference laboratories shall be:

(a) to monitor compliance with regional disease and pest requirements by countries as well as producer/processor enterprises, and oversee the appropriate certification process;

(b) to process selected samples of commodities for the purpose of maintaining a databank of disease causing agents and pests relevant to international trade;

(c) to validate and standardise diagnostic procedures and reagents on behalf of satellite and national laboratories;

(d) to gather technical information with regards to SPS matters and make it available to Member States and other interested parties;

(e) to provide credible scientific basis for resolution of disputes between the importing and/or exporting parties;

(f) to assist Member States in carrying out risk analysis;

(g) to train personnel from the national laboratories of Member States;

(h) to establish and implement inter-laboratory comparison schemes;

(i) to designate, supervise and coordinate the work of Regional SPS Related Satellite Laboratories; and

(j) to serve as centres of excellence for SPS technical matters

Regional Satellite Laboratories

(1) Council may designate such number of national SPS related laboratories as may be necessary, as regional SPS satellite laboratories specialised in a specific area of competence, in accordance with such criteria and modalities as the Council may determine.

(2) The functions of the regional SPS satellite laboratories shall be:

(a) to process selected samples of commodities for the purpose of maintaining a databank of disease causing agents and pests relevant to international trade in a specific area of competence;

(b) to gather technical information with regard to SPS matters and make it available to Member States and other interested parties in a specific area of competence;

(c) to assist Member States in carrying out risk analysis in a specific area of competence;

(d) to train personnel from the national laboratories of Member States in a specific area of competence; and

(e) to establish and implement inter-laboratory comparison schemes in a specific area of competence.

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