The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Plant Health - Nematodes performs several tasks according to Art. 101 of the EU Control Regulation 2017/625 to ensure comparable and valid results in the diagnosis of plant damaging nematodes classified as EU quarantine pests according to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

This includes, but is not limited to.

• Identification/diagnosis of the quarantine pests using recognized methods in compliance with relevant accreditation requirements (EN ISO/IEC 17025).
• Cooperation with the relevant Reference Laboratory of the European Union (EU-RL)
• Improvement of expertise through participation in training courses of the EU-RL
• Proof of competence through participation in interlaboratory tests of the EU-RL
• Establish and maintain a reference collection of plant damaging nematodes.
• Distribution of the information provided by the EU-RL to the competent authorities

Samples to be tested from international trade (import, domestic trade and export) or from official surveillance activities are provided by the competent Official Plant Protection Services (APSD).

Links:

• Official Plant Protection Service - Scope of duties
• Official Plant Protection Service - Regulated pests

• Morphological identification/detection of the nematodes classified as quarantine pests (new pests, Union quarantine pests and sanctuary quarantine pests) by microscopic examination;
• Molecular genetic identification/detection of nematodes classified as quarantine pests (new pests, Union quarantine pests, and protected area quarantine pests) by PCR and DNA barcoding;
• Morphological identification/detection of nematodes classified as Union regulated non-quarantine pests by microscopic examination;
• Molecular identification/detection of nematodes classified as Union regulated non-quarantine pests by PCR and DNA barcoding;