The Molecular and Microbiology Department of the Institute for Food Safety Vienna is nominated as National Reference Laboratory according to Regulation (EC) No. 625/2017 of the European Parliament and of the Council for official controls. The laboratory supports as NRL (listed in Regulation (EC) No. 120/2014) the Community Reference Laboratory of the European Union also in the validation of analytical methods.

One focus is the harmonization of detection methods for genetically modified food, feed and seed. To this end, the NRL establishes detection methods for approved and non-approved GMOs and participates in the development and validation of new test methods for the analysis of genetically modified food, feed and seed.

A central task on the national level is the cooperation with the NRL for GMOs at the Federal Environment Agency and the competent authorities responsible for the verification of compliance with food and feed law regarding GMOs.

Currently, the NRL of AGES also acts as the National Reference Laboratory for Northern Ireland.

For an order form, please email office.lms@ages.at.

• Performance of analyses within the scope of official control in Austria;
• Performance of contract analyses (Further information on analytics in the field of genetic engineering can be found here.);
• Collaboration in working groups for the development of methods and guidelines (ENGL - European Network of GMO Laboratories; §28b and §64 working group of BVL, Germany);
• Collaboration in the development of norms and standards (ISO and CEN working groups);
• Support in the operation of the EUginius database;
• Collaboration in projects