In 1993, the European Commission officially designated as the European Union Reference Laboratory (EU-RL) for control of antimicrobial veterinary medicinal product and dye residues in food from animal origin, the French Agency for Safety of Food, environmental and occupational health safety, ANSES, which was former AFSSA (1998-2010) and CNEVA (1988-1998).

The activities of the EU-RL are handled at ANSES - Laboratory of Fougeres.

Current Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 in its articles 93 and 94 defines the role and duties of the European Union Reference Laboratories. The EU-RL for residues in food and feed shall be responsible for the proper implementation by the EU Member States and their National Reference Laboratories (NRL) of the analytical methods set down according to requirements of the Commission Regulations.

Main duties of the EU-RL for Antimicrobial Veterinary Medicinal Products and non-authorised Antimicrobial and Dye Substances :

❶ PROVIDING ANALYTICAL METHODS

❷ COORDINATING THE APPLICATION OF ANALYTICAL METHODS BY ORGANISING COMPARATIVE TESTING

❸ COORDINATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR NEW METHODS AND PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT ADVANCES

❹ CONDUCTING TRAINING COURSES

❺ PROVIDING SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

❻ COLLABORATING WITH THIRD COUNTRIES

Due to their scientific and technical proficiency in the areas of animal health, public health and livestock research, the European Union Reference Laboratories (EU-RLs) have been designated and, without prejudice to any other relevant European legislation, are referred to in Commission Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 (repealed in 2017) and currently replaced by Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 and its subsequent implementing acts.

Laboratory for control of residues for the following substances according to the Annex V of Directive (EC) 96/23 :

• group A6 : nitrofuranes, chloramphenicol and dapsone
• group B1 : MRL-authorised antimicrobials, including quinolones and sulfonamides
• group B2f : non-authorised quinoxalines like carbadox & olaquindox
• group B3e : non-authorised dyes like malachite green, crystal violet (gentiane violet), brilliant green

► EU-RL Residues work program of the year 2024 (as of 01.04.2024) 

► List of analytical instruments available at Anses-Fougeres

► List of analytical methods available at Anses-Fougeres for the control of antimicrobial and dye residues in food (as of 28.11.2023)

► MRLs - Link to currently set EU Maximum Residue Limits for VMP Residues in Food

► Link MRLS - Link to MRL Assessment Reports