S.L. 437.93 Art. 52Reference laboratories.

(1) The laboratory named in Schedule VII shall be the Community reference laboratory for avian influenza (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community reference laboratory’).

Without prejudice to Decision 90/424/EEC, the Community reference laboratory shall carry out the functions and duties listed in Schedule VII.

(2) The competent authority shall designate a national reference laboratory and shall make the details thereof, and any subsequent changes thereto, available to the other Member States and to the public in a manner that may be specified in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 65(2).

(3) Malta shall ensure that the national reference laboratories:

(a) carry out the functions and duties set out in Schedule VIII;

(b) are responsible for co-ordinating standards and methods of diagnosis in Malta in accordance with Schedule VIII and liasing with the Community reference laboratory.

(4) The Community reference laboratory shall maintain close cooperation and contact with the OIE and FAO reference laboratory for avian influenza and, as appropriate, with other internationally recognised laboratories within the Community in order to ensure training, excellence and support to national reference laboratories in Malta and Third Countries.

CHAPTER IX VACCINATION

Section 1 General prohibition of vaccination