Article 1 
Each Member State shall designate a national reference laboratory for monitoring viral and bacteriological contaminations of bivalve molluscs. It shall inform the Commission, which shall publish the list of the national reference laboratories and any updates to it in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 2 1. Each national reference laboratory shall be responsible for: (a) coordinating the activities of the national laboratories responsible for viral and bacteriological analyses of bivalve molluscs in the relevant Member State; (b) assisting the competent authority in the Member State to organise a system for monitoring viral and bacteriological contamination of bivalve molluscs; (c) organising on a regular basis comparative tests between the various national laboratories responsible for the said analyses; (d) disseminating the information provided by the Community reference laboratory referred to in Article 3 to the competent authorities and national laboratories responsible for the said analyses. 2. The national laboratories shall collaborate with the Community reference laboratory referred to in Article 3. Article 3 The laboratory of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science at Weymouth in the United Kingdom is hereby designated as the Community reference laboratory for monitoring the viral and bacteriological contamination of bivalve molluscs. Article 4 The Community reference laboratory shall be responsible for the following tasks: (a) supplying information on analytical methods and comparative testing to the national reference laboratories; (b) coordinating the application by the national reference laboratories of the methods referred to in point (a), by organising comparative testing in particular; (c) coordinating research into new analytical methods and informing the national reference laboratories of progress made in this area; (d) organising training and advanced courses for the staff of the national reference laboratories; (e) collaborating with the laboratories responsible for the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs in third countries; (f) providing scientific and technical assistance to the Commission, especially in cases where test results are contested between Member States; (g) helping the reference laboratories to implement an appropriate system of quality assurance based on the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) and the EN 45 000 criteria. Article 5 The Community reference laboratory shall satisfy the following operating conditions: (a) staff must be qualified and have sufficient knowledge of the techniques applied in the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs; (b) the equipment and substances necessary for carrying out the tasks laid down in Article 4 must be available; (c) an appropriate administrative structure must be in place; (d) the confidential nature of certain subjects, results and reports must be observed by the staff; (e) the principles of good laboratory practice accepted internationally must be followed; (f) an up-to-date list of the reference substances held by the Community Bureau of References must be available, along with an up-to-date list of the manufacturers and suppliers of these substances. Article 6 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 7 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1999. For the Council The President W. MÜLLER (1) OJ C 267, 3.9.1997, p. 15. (2) OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 79 and opinion of 13 April 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 355, 21.11.1997, p. 63. (4) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC (OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31). (5) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 31).
Article 2 
1. Each national reference laboratory shall be responsible for: (a) coordinating the activities of the national laboratories responsible for viral and bacteriological analyses of bivalve molluscs in the relevant Member State; (b) assisting the competent authority in the Member State to organise a system for monitoring viral and bacteriological contamination of bivalve molluscs; (c) organising on a regular basis comparative tests between the various national laboratories responsible for the said analyses; (d) disseminating the information provided by the Community reference laboratory referred to in Article 3 to the competent authorities and national laboratories responsible for the said analyses. 2. The national laboratories shall collaborate with the Community reference laboratory referred to in Article 3. Article 3 The laboratory of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science at Weymouth in the United Kingdom is hereby designated as the Community reference laboratory for monitoring the viral and bacteriological contamination of bivalve molluscs. Article 4 The Community reference laboratory shall be responsible for the following tasks: (a) supplying information on analytical methods and comparative testing to the national reference laboratories; (b) coordinating the application by the national reference laboratories of the methods referred to in point (a), by organising comparative testing in particular; (c) coordinating research into new analytical methods and informing the national reference laboratories of progress made in this area; (d) organising training and advanced courses for the staff of the national reference laboratories; (e) collaborating with the laboratories responsible for the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs in third countries; (f) providing scientific and technical assistance to the Commission, especially in cases where test results are contested between Member States; (g) helping the reference laboratories to implement an appropriate system of quality assurance based on the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) and the EN 45 000 criteria. Article 5 The Community reference laboratory shall satisfy the following operating conditions: (a) staff must be qualified and have sufficient knowledge of the techniques applied in the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs; (b) the equipment and substances necessary for carrying out the tasks laid down in Article 4 must be available; (c) an appropriate administrative structure must be in place; (d) the confidential nature of certain subjects, results and reports must be observed by the staff; (e) the principles of good laboratory practice accepted internationally must be followed; (f) an up-to-date list of the reference substances held by the Community Bureau of References must be available, along with an up-to-date list of the manufacturers and suppliers of these substances. Article 6 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 7 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1999. For the Council The President W. MÜLLER (1) OJ C 267, 3.9.1997, p. 15. (2) OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 79 and opinion of 13 April 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 355, 21.11.1997, p. 63. (4) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC (OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31). (5) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 31).
Article 3 
The laboratory of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science at Weymouth in the United Kingdom is hereby designated as the Community reference laboratory for monitoring the viral and bacteriological contamination of bivalve molluscs. Article 4 The Community reference laboratory shall be responsible for the following tasks: (a) supplying information on analytical methods and comparative testing to the national reference laboratories; (b) coordinating the application by the national reference laboratories of the methods referred to in point (a), by organising comparative testing in particular; (c) coordinating research into new analytical methods and informing the national reference laboratories of progress made in this area; (d) organising training and advanced courses for the staff of the national reference laboratories; (e) collaborating with the laboratories responsible for the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs in third countries; (f) providing scientific and technical assistance to the Commission, especially in cases where test results are contested between Member States; (g) helping the reference laboratories to implement an appropriate system of quality assurance based on the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) and the EN 45 000 criteria. Article 5 The Community reference laboratory shall satisfy the following operating conditions: (a) staff must be qualified and have sufficient knowledge of the techniques applied in the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs; (b) the equipment and substances necessary for carrying out the tasks laid down in Article 4 must be available; (c) an appropriate administrative structure must be in place; (d) the confidential nature of certain subjects, results and reports must be observed by the staff; (e) the principles of good laboratory practice accepted internationally must be followed; (f) an up-to-date list of the reference substances held by the Community Bureau of References must be available, along with an up-to-date list of the manufacturers and suppliers of these substances. Article 6 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 7 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1999. For the Council The President W. MÜLLER (1) OJ C 267, 3.9.1997, p. 15. (2) OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 79 and opinion of 13 April 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 355, 21.11.1997, p. 63. (4) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC (OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31). (5) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 31).
Article 4 
The Community reference laboratory shall be responsible for the following tasks: (a) supplying information on analytical methods and comparative testing to the national reference laboratories; (b) coordinating the application by the national reference laboratories of the methods referred to in point (a), by organising comparative testing in particular; (c) coordinating research into new analytical methods and informing the national reference laboratories of progress made in this area; (d) organising training and advanced courses for the staff of the national reference laboratories; (e) collaborating with the laboratories responsible for the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs in third countries; (f) providing scientific and technical assistance to the Commission, especially in cases where test results are contested between Member States; (g) helping the reference laboratories to implement an appropriate system of quality assurance based on the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) and the EN 45 000 criteria. Article 5 The Community reference laboratory shall satisfy the following operating conditions: (a) staff must be qualified and have sufficient knowledge of the techniques applied in the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs; (b) the equipment and substances necessary for carrying out the tasks laid down in Article 4 must be available; (c) an appropriate administrative structure must be in place; (d) the confidential nature of certain subjects, results and reports must be observed by the staff; (e) the principles of good laboratory practice accepted internationally must be followed; (f) an up-to-date list of the reference substances held by the Community Bureau of References must be available, along with an up-to-date list of the manufacturers and suppliers of these substances. Article 6 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 7 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1999. For the Council The President W. MÜLLER (1) OJ C 267, 3.9.1997, p. 15. (2) OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 79 and opinion of 13 April 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 355, 21.11.1997, p. 63. (4) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC (OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31). (5) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 31).
Article 5 
The Community reference laboratory shall satisfy the following operating conditions: (a) staff must be qualified and have sufficient knowledge of the techniques applied in the bacteriological and viral analysis of bivalve molluscs; (b) the equipment and substances necessary for carrying out the tasks laid down in Article 4 must be available; (c) an appropriate administrative structure must be in place; (d) the confidential nature of certain subjects, results and reports must be observed by the staff; (e) the principles of good laboratory practice accepted internationally must be followed; (f) an up-to-date list of the reference substances held by the Community Bureau of References must be available, along with an up-to-date list of the manufacturers and suppliers of these substances. Article 6 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 7 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1999. For the Council The President W. MÜLLER (1) OJ C 267, 3.9.1997, p. 15. (2) OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 79 and opinion of 13 April 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 355, 21.11.1997, p. 63. (4) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC (OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31). (5) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 31).
Article 6 
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 7 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1999. For the Council The President W. MÜLLER (1) OJ C 267, 3.9.1997, p. 15. (2) OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 79 and opinion of 13 April 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 355, 21.11.1997, p. 63. (4) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC (OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31). (5) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 31).
Article 7 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1999