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. The EU reference laboratories for food and feed are listed in Part I of Annex VII to that Regulation. This list does not include an EU reference laboratory for foodborne viruses. However, Article 32(5) of that Regulation provides that additional EU reference laboratories may be included in Annex VII by the Commission.

EU reference laboratories should cover the areas of feed and food law and animal health where precise analytical and diagnostic results are needed. Although well-established methods to detect viruses in foods exist, the effectiveness of controls is hampered by the lack of uniformity in the use of the tests. The fact that no proficiency tests are being performed to assess the methods used by national reference laboratories and their capability to use the tests makes it difficult for some national reference laboratories and official laboratories to obtain the accreditation necessary to work in compliance with Regulation (EC) No 882/2004. Therefore, the absence of an EU reference laboratory on foodborne viruses negatively affects the competent authorities' ability to perform official controls in this area.

On 16 December 2016 the Commission launched a call for applications to select and designate an EU reference laboratory in the field of foodborne viruses. The selected laboratory Livsmedelsverket should be designated as EU reference laboratory in the field of foodborne viruses.

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 Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,