2004/479/EC:COMMISSION DECISION of 29 April 2004 laying down transitional measures for certain national reference laboratories for the detection of residues in the new Member States  [notified under document number C(2004) 1743] (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-04-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: accession to the European Union, animal product, hormone, live animal, research body, transitional period (EU)

30.4.2004 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 160/111 

___ 

COMMISSION DECISION 

of 29 April 2004 

laying down transitional measures for certain national reference laboratories for the 
detection of residues in the new Member States 

(notified under document number C(2004) 1743) 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

(2004/479/EC) 

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  of  Accession  of  the  Czech  Republic,  Estonia,  Cyprus,  Latvia, 
Malta,  Lithuania,  Hungary,  Poland,  Slovenia  and  Slovakia,  and  in  particular  Article  2(3) 
thereof, 

Having  regard  to  the  Act  of  Accession  of  the  Czech  Republic,  Estonia,  Cyprus,  Latvia, 
Lithuania,  Hungary,  Malta,  Poland,  Slovenia  and  Slovakia,  and  in  particular  Article  42 
thereof, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Some national reference laboratories for the detection of residues in the new Member 
States,  mentioned  in  Commission  Decision  98/536/EC1,  will  have  difficulties  in 
carrying  out  from  1  May  2004  certain  tasks  in  compliance  with  Council  Directive 
96/23/EC2  of  29  April  1996  on  measures  to  monitor  certain  substances  and  residues 
thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 
86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC; 

These  laboratories  need  a  limited  period  of  time  to  prepare  in  particular  as  regards 
developing analytical methods to be in full compliance with Directive 96/23/EC; 

In order to facilitate the transition from the existing regime to that resulting from the 
application of the Community veterinary rules, it is therefore appropriate to grant these 

1 
2 

OJ L 251, 11.09.1998, p. 39 
OJ L 125, 23.05.1996, p. 10  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
laboratories  a  transitional  period  in  order  to  enable  these  laboratories  to  make  the 
necessary preparations; 

These  laboratories  have  given  reliable  guarantees  of  the  existence  of  the  necessary 
agreements with other laboratories in the European Community which will carry out 
the necessary tasks during that time; 

Due to the state of preparedness of these laboratories, the transitional period should be 
limited to a maximum period of 12 months; 

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:  

Article 1 

During  a  period  expiring  on  1  May  2005,  the  laboratories  listed  in  column  D  of  the  Annex 
may  carry  out  the  tasks  under  Article  14(1)  of  Directive  96/23/EC  pursuant  to  which  the 
laboratories listed in column B are listed in Commission Decision 98/536/EC . 

Article 2 

The Decision shall take effect subject to and as from the date of entry into force of the Treaty 
of  Accession  of  the  Czech  Republic,  Estonia,  Cyprus,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Hungary,  Malta, 
Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.  

Article 3 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 29 April 2004. 

For the Commission 
David BYRNE 
Member of the Commission 

 
 
 
ANNEX  

National Reference Laboratory 

Group of residues 

(B) 

(C) 

Group A6 (nitrofurans) 

Associated 
Laboratory  

(D) 

RIKILT – Institute 
of Food Safety- 
Wageningen - NL 

Member 
State 

(A) 

Czech 
Republic 

'Estonia 

National Reference Laboratory for 
residues of Veterinary Drugs 
Ustav pro statni kontrolu 
veterinarnich biopreparatu a leciv 
Hudcova 56 A 
621 00 Brno 

Veterinaar- ja Toidulaboratoorium 
Väike-Paala 3 
11415 Tallinn 

Group A2, A3, B2 a) 
(avermectins) 

EELA - Finland 

Group A5 

Group A6 (confirmation) 

Group B2 a)-levamisole, 
B3e) 

Group B3e) 

LABERCA- Nantes 
France 

Chemistry Unit – 
GALAB- Germany 

Danish Veterinary 
and Food 
Administration – 
Denmark 

Danish Veterinary 
and Food 
Administration – 
Denmark 

Group B1 in honey 
Group B3 e) in fish 

EELA - Finland 

Group B1, B3e) in fish 
Groups A6, B1, B2c) in 
honey 

W.E.J GmbH 
Stenzelring 14 b 
21107 Hamburg  
Germany 

Cyprus 

Latvia  

Lithuania  

Εθνικό Έργαστήριο Αναφοράς για 
τον έλεγχο των υπολειµµάτων  
Γενικό Χηµείο του Κράτους 
Κίµωνος 44 
1451 Λευκωσία 

National Reference Laboratory for 
the Control of Residues 
General State Laboratory 
Kimonos 44 
1451, Nicosia 
Valsts veterinārmedicīnas 
diagnostikas centrs 
Lejupes iela 3 
Rīga, LV-1076 
Nacionalinė veterinarijos laboratorija 
J.Kairiūkščio g. 10 
LT-2021 Vilnius 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'Slovenia 

Nacionalni veterinarski Inštitut 
Gerbičeva 60 
SI-1000 Ljubljana  

Groups  A1,  A3,  A4,  A5, 
A6, B2b, B2d. 

Chelab- Italy  

Amitraz in honey 

Mercury in fish 

Confirmation  for  groups 
A1, A3, A4, A5 

Public 
Regional 
Health  Laboratory 
of  Nova  Gorica 
(ZZV-Ng) 

Institute  of  Public 
Health - Ljubljana 
ISCVBM 
(Czech Republic)  

BRNO 

Confirmation 
B3d) 

for  group 

State Veterinary 
Institute JIHLAVA 
(Czech Republic) 

Slovakia 

Štátny  veterinárny  a  potravinový 
ústav 
Akademická 3 
SK - 949 01 Nitra 

Štátny  veterinárny  a  potravinový 
ústav 
Hlinkova 1/B 
SK - 040 01 Košice