For decades, invasions of alien species into a new territory have invariably altered the balance of natural ecosystems and have had serious repercussions on areas of economic and social importance. National Plant Health Services first goal is to prevent the introduction and spread on the EU territory of potential harmful species, putting in place official measures immediately after the discovery of the pest within their borders. Therefore, being able to rely on the competences of Laboratories well trained for a prompt identification, is of paramount importance. On 1st of August 2019, the European Reference Laboratory for Insects and Mites (EURL for Insects and Mites) officially opens its doors and starts its activities. Designated under the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/530 of 27 March 2019, the EURL is composed by two partners: the Entomology and Invasive Plants Unit of ANSES Plant Health Laboratory (Montpellier, France) and the Department for Molecular Diagnostics of Plant Diseases of the AGES (Vienna, Austria). This consortium has been defined in such a way as to unite the broad knowledge of ANSES in the morphological identification of plant pests together with the diagnostic expertise of AGES in the molecular field. The main objective of the EURL-Insects and Mites is to coordinate the network of EU National Reference Laboratories (EU NRLs) to ensure accurate identification of regulated or invasive insect and mite species. In this frame, the work programme will include a number of activities and services aimed to the EU  NRLs, i.e.: ► Provision of guidance on methods of laboratory analysis, including validated reference methods; ► Provision of reference materials; ► Organisation of annual proficiency tests; ► Organisation of annual training sessions and workshops; ► Sharing of information and news, recent publications and forthcoming events; ► Provision of confirmatory identification of specimens. All this in order to improve the quality of the diagnosis and harmonise the diagnostic procedures at European level. A questionnaire will soon be presented to all EU NRLs in order to collect information on their expertise, facilities and available staff and their expectations for future EURL activities, such as their technical and scientific support needs. The EURL requests the kind cooperation of all EU NRLs to provide this important information. The EURL for Insects and Mites is pleased to welcome you, wishing the full cooperation of all EU NRLs in building a network at European level, able to meet the challenges that the diagnostics in the field of entomology will present in the years to come.

In 2018 the United Nations declared 2020 as the International Year for Plant Health (IYPH). The main aim of this initiative, lead by FAO and IPPC, is to raise awareness of the effects of plant health in poverty, hunger, as well as in environment protection and economic development. Seven key messages are the base of the IYPH initiative. Participation is open to all types of public with the organization of different activities, like a photo contest, different events at national and international level, featuring stories, activity books for children,... For more information and materials, visit the official website: www.ippc.int/en/iyph/   

Welcome to the website of the European Union Reference Laboratory for plant parasitic nematodes. The consortium between ANSES (France) and ILVO (Belgium) is designated as the European Union Reference Laboratory for pest of plant on nematodes. You will find on the site all the activities of the EURL and information related to the nematology. It is accessible to all members of the network. EURL activities officially start on the 1st of August 2019.

PT report 18 OW  

Note prepared by the EU RL for Bee Health (Laboratory of  Anses Sophia Antipolis) Updated news (26th. July 2019) To see the details of the outbreaks observed in 2018, please click here. 

The first 2019 training session focused on molecular methods, including real time PCR, Bruce Ladder and HRM (High Melting Resolution) PCR. This 2-day session combining theory and practice regrouped 8 participants from Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal and Romania.

[relayed from OIE and IVDC websites] The 87th General Session of the World Assembly of National Delegates of the OIE has been held from 26 to 31 May 2019, bringing together representatives of 182 OIE Members and observers from international organisations that have signed an official agreement with the OIE, as well as other international and regional organisations and invited guests.  China Institute of Veterinary Drug Control（abbreviated as IVDC) is designated as OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis. This institute is derived from the Institute of Veterinary Biomedicine of Ministry of Agriculture of Central Government that was found in 1952. IVDC is affiliated to MARA（Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) and is a national institute responsible for evaluation and inspection of veterinary drugs.

The EURL for Listeria monocytogenes participated to the IAFP Europe symposium on food safety organised 24-26 Avril 2019 in Nantes, France. During the plenary opening conference, Benjamin Félix as invited participant, presented the description of the EURL for Lm participated to the investigation of nine multi-country outbreak investigations in collaboration with the NRLs, EFSA and ECDC. These investigations were conducted using whole genome sequencing methods. The EURL was in charge of data centralisation, analysis and data production in support of the NRLs. Abstract and slide show available hereafter.  

We are pleased to transmit you an update from EC/JRC regarding the 3 Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) on SEA in cheese powder (IRMM-359a-c). Their certificates have now been updated with ELISA-based quantitative values derived from a collaboration with our laboratory, in particular. These values have been included in the section "additional material information" of the certificates. A short reference to this work was added to the certification report (addendum in page 5). Please see: https://crm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/p/q/359/IRMM-359-CHEESE-POWDER-SEA/IRMM-359 This information is important for the ones of you using these CRMs as well as for the national networks you coordinate.