In Europe

In order to ensure food safety and thus maintain an efficient and consistent control system within the Union, the Commission has set up an overall provision of regulations (EC Directive 96/23) on the control of residues and contaminants in live animals and animal products. This monitoring system is based on a network of approved laboratories: CRLs, NRLs, and field laboratories.

France has designated the LABERCA as National Reference Laboratory :
  • In 1989 for group A (1 to 5) as defined in Annex I of EC Directive 96/23, ie. substances likely to have an anabolic effect and assimilated substances (stilbens, resorcylic acid lactones, ß-agonists, steroids and thyrostats) and group B(2f) (corticosteroids).
  • In 2000 for group B (3f) as defined in Annex I of EC Directive 96/23, ie. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (dioxins, PCDD/F, dioxin-like PCBs, PAHs...). At a European level and within this network, the LABERCA is in contact with Community Reference Laboratories RIVM (Bilthoven, Netherlands) for residues in groups A1, 2, 3, 4 and B2f, BfR (Berlin, Germany) for residues in group A5 and CVUA (Freiburg, Germany) for residues in group B(3f).

Nationwide

As National Reference Laboratory, the LABERCA is currently managing three networks of field laboratories:
  • The Growth Promoters network,
  • The PCB and Dioxin network,
  • The PAH network.
In this respect, the Laboratory must:
  • Coordinate the work of the field laboratories in charge of residue analyses, in particular as regards methods.
  • Assist the competent authority in the organisation of the residues control and monitoring plan.
  • Periodically organise interlaboratory assays for each group of substances in order to evaluate the competence of the field laboratories.
  • Ensure that national laboratories abide by the set limits.
Higher education