Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 lays down the general tasks, duties and requirements for European Union (EU) reference laboratories for food and feed and for animal health and live animals. EU reference laboratories for food and feed are listed in Part I of Annex VII to that Regulation.

Following a reorganisation of laboratory activities in the Netherlands, all functions, including all infrastructure and staff, of the Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM), currently listed as the EU reference laboratory for residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal origin, for 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, were transferred to RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety. The tasks performed by RIVM were assigned to RIKILT under a framework contract which ended on 31 December 2011.

Since the contract of RIVM was coming to an end a call for selection for an EU reference laboratory to replace it was launched. RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety was selected as fulfilling all the required criteria and should be designated as such.

Due to the importance of the substances in the Groups A (1) to A (4) in Annex I to Directive 96/23/EC and the fact that RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety was selected as fulfilling all the required criteria, it should be designated as the competent EU reference laboratory for residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in food of animal origin, for 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 as of 1 January 2012. This Regulation should apply with retroactive effect from 1 January 2012.

Part I of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,