HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 337/54
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
11.12.2012
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 7 December 2012
designating the EU reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease and repealing Decision
2006/393/EC
(notified under document C(2012) 8901)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2012/767/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
(6) The
evaluation,
initiated
by
the
Commission
and
completed in April 2011, concluded that the Institute
for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, successfully
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
fulfils all of the functions and duties of the EU
Union,
reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease as
provided for in Annex XVI to Directive 2003/85/EC
and of the responsibilities of the EU reference labora
Having regard to Council Directive 2003/85/EC of
tories as provided for in Article 32(2) and (4) of Regu
29 September 2003 on Community measures for the control
lation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and
of foot-and-mouth disease repealing Directive 85/511/EEC and
of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls
Decisions 89/531/EEC and 91/665/EEC and amending Directive
performed to ensure the verification of compliance
92/46/EEC ( 1 ), and in particular Article 69(1) thereof,
with feed and food law, animal health and animal
welfare rules ( 3 ).
Whereas:
(7) The
designation
of
that
laboratory
as
an
EU
reference
(1) Directive
2003/85/EC
sets
out
minimum
control
laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease should therefore
measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of
be prolonged for an undetermined period of time.
foot-and-mouth disease and certain preventive measures
aimed at increasing the awareness and preparedness of
the competent authorities and the farming community
(8)
In addition, the United Kingdom has officially informed
concerning that disease.
the Commission that the Institute for Animal Health,
Pirbright Laboratory, is now called the Pirbright Institute.
(2) Directive
2003/85/EC
provides, inter alia, that an EU
reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease is to be
designated in order to carry out the functions and duties
(9)
In order to avoid any disruption of activities of the EU
set out in Annex XVI thereto.
reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease, it is

appropriate that the measures provided for in this
Decision apply retroactively, as from 7 June 2011.
(3) The
Commission,
in
close
collaboration
with
the
Member
States, has carried out a tender for the selection of that
EU reference laboratory, taking into account the criteria
(10) In
the
interest
of
clarity
and
simplification
of
Union
law,
of technical and scientific competence and staff expertise.
Decision 2006/393/EC should therefore be repealed and
replaced by this Decision.
(4) Following
completion
of
the
selection
procedure,
the
successful laboratory, the Institute for Animal Health,
(11) The
measures provided for in this Decision are in
Pirbright Laboratory sponsored by the Biotechnology
accordance with the opinion of the Standing
and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC),
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
has been designated, by Commission Decision
2006/393/EC ( 2 ), as EU reference laboratory for foot-
and-mouth disease for a period of five years starting
on 7 June 2006.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
(5) Directive
2003/85/EC
also
provides
that
the
Commission
Article 1
should review the designation of the EU reference
laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease in the light of its
1. The Pirbright Institute, of the Biotechnology and
compliance with the functions and duties of that
Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in the United
laboratory specified in Annex XVI thereto.
Kingdom, is designated as the EU reference laboratory for
foot-and-mouth disease.
( 1 ) OJ L 306, 22.11.2003, p. 1.
( 2 ) OJ L 152, 7.6.2006, p. 31.
( 3 ) OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

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EN
11.12.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
337/55
2. The
rules
setting
out
the
functions
and
duties
of
the
EU
Article 4
reference laboratory referred to in paragraph 1 are laid down in
Annex XVI to Directive 2003/85/EC.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Article 2
Decision 2006/393/EC is repealed.
Done at Brussels, 7 December 2012.
References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as
references to this Decision.
For the Commission
Article 3
Tonio BORG
This Decision shall apply from 7 June 2011.
Member of the Commission

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Document Outline

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