PURPOSE: to improve the system for monitoring viral and bacteriological contaminations of bivalve molluscs.
COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council decision 1999/313/EC on reference laboratories for monitoring bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs.
CONTENT: in order to ensure an effective monitoring system with regard to virus testing and the establishment of standards for viral and bacteriological contamination, the decision provides for the designation by each Member State of a national reference laboratory for monitoring viral and bacteriological contaminations of bivalve molluscs, responsible for coordinating the implementation of the necessary analyses.
In order to ensure a standardised system throughout the Community, the laboratory of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science at Weymouth in the United Kingdom, is designated as the Community reference laboratory . This laboratory, the tasks and operating conditions of which are specified, will be responsible for coordinating the analyses carried out by each national reference laboratory.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 08/05/1999.�