
Article 1 
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth Laboratory, United Kingdom, is hereby designated as the Community reference laboratory for crustacean diseases from 1 July 2008 until 30 June 2013.
Article 2 
The Laboratoire d’études sur la rage et la pathologie des animaux sauvages of the Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), Nancy, France, is hereby designated as the Community reference laboratory for rabies from 1 July 2008 until 30 June 2013.
Certain responsibilities and tasks for that laboratory are set out in Annex I.
Article 3 
The Laboratorio de Vigilancia Veterinaria (VISAVET), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, is hereby designated as the Community reference laboratory for bovine tuberculosis from 1 July 2008 until 30 June 2013.
Certain responsibilities and tasks for that laboratory are set out in Annex II.
Article 4 
In Part II of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, the following points 15, 16 and 17 are added:
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15. 
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas)Weymouth LaboratoryThe NotheBarrack RoadWeymouthDorset DT4 8UBUnited Kingdom

16. 
AFSSA — Laboratoire d’études sur la rage et la pathologie des animaux sauvages, Nancy, France54220 MalzévilleFrance

17. 
VISAVET — Laboratorio de vigilancia veterinaria, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de MadridAvda. Puerta de Hierro, s/n. Ciudad Universitaria28040 MadridSpain
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Article 5 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 28 July 2008.
For the Commission
Androulla VASSILIOU
Member of the Commission
ANNEX I
In addition to the general functions and duties of Community reference laboratories in the animal health sector pursuant to Article 32(2) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, the Community reference laboratory for rabies shall have the responsibilities and tasks set out in points 1 to 5.

1. 

((a)) typing, storing and supplying strains of rabies virus;
((b)) preparing, controlling and supplying international standard sera and other reference reagents to the national reference laboratories in order to standardise the tests and reagents used in the Member States;
((c)) validating reference reagents including antigens and national standard sera submitted by the national reference laboratories;
((d)) building up and maintaining a sera bank and a collection of rabies virus, and maintaining a database of strains isolated across the Community, including typing;
((e)) organising periodical comparative tests of diagnostic procedures at Community level and operating laboratory proficiency tests of national reference laboratories;
((f)) collecting and collating data and information on the methods of diagnosis used and the results of tests carried out in the Community;
((g)) characterising rabies virus by the most up-to-date methods available to allow a greater understanding of the epidemiology of that disease;
((h)) keeping abreast of developments in rabies surveillance, epidemiology and prevention throughout the world;
((i)) acquiring a thorough knowledge of the preparation and use of the products of veterinary immunology used to eradicate and control rabies including the evaluation of vaccines.

2. To facilitate the harmonisation of techniques throughout the Community, in particular specifying standard test methodologies.

3. To organise workshops for the benefit of national reference laboratories as agreed in the work-programme and annual budget referred to in Articles 2 to 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 156/2004, including training of experts from the Member States and, as appropriate, from third countries, in new analytical methodologies.

4. To provide technical assistance to the Commission and, upon its request, to participate in international fora relating to rabies, concerning in particular the standardisation of analytical diagnostic methods and their implementation.

5. 

((a)) carrying out or collaborating with national reference laboratories in carrying out test validation trials;
((b)) providing scientific advice to the Commission and collecting information and reports associated with the activities of the Community reference laboratory.

ANNEX II
In addition to the general functions and duties of Community reference laboratories in the animal health sector pursuant to Article 32(2) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, the Community reference laboratory for bovine tuberculosis shall have the responsibilities and tasks set out in points 1 to 5.

(1) 

((a)) typing, storing and supplying strains of Mycobacterium sp. causing tuberculosis in animals;
((b)) preparing, controlling and supplying reference reagents to the national reference laboratories in order to standardise the tests and reagents used in the Member States;
((c)) validating reference reagents including antigens and tuberculins submitted by the national reference laboratories for bovine tuberculosis;
((d)) building up and maintaining a collection of Mycobacterium sp. causing tuberculosis in animals, and maintaining a database of strains isolated across the Community including typing;
((e)) organising periodical comparative tests of diagnostic procedures at Community level and operating laboratory proficiency tests of national reference laboratories;
((f)) collecting and collating data and information on the methods of diagnosis used and the results of tests carried out in the Community;
((g)) characterising Mycobacterium sp. causing tuberculosis in animals by the most up-to-date methods available to allow a greater understanding of the epidemiology of that disease;
((h)) keeping abreast of developments in bovine tuberculosis surveillance, epidemiology and prevention throughout the world;
((i)) acquiring a thorough knowledge of the preparation and use of the products of veterinary immunology used to eradicate and control bovine tuberculosis including the evaluation of vaccines.

(2) To facilitate the harmonisation of techniques throughout the Community, in particular specifying standard test methodologies.

(3) To organise workshops for the benefit of national reference laboratories as agreed in the work-programme and annual budget referred to in Articles 2 to 4 of Regulation (EC) No 156/2004, including training of experts from the Member States and, as appropriate, from third countries, in new analytical methodologies.

(4) To provide technical assistance to the Commission and, upon its request, to participate in international fora relating to the diagnostic of bovine tuberculosis, concerning in particular the standardisation of analytical diagnostic methods and their implementation.

(5) 

((a)) carrying out or collaborating with national reference laboratories in carrying out test validation trials;
((b)) providing scientific advice to the Commission and collecting information and reports associated with the activities of the Community reference laboratory.
