Division 1.2 Approved laboratories

The analysis of the samples shall be carried out exclusively by the laboratories approved for official residue control by the competent authority.

Participation in an internationally recognised external quality control assessment and accreditation scheme is required for authorised laboratories. The accreditations must be obtained before 1 January 2002. F1For the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia the accreditation must be obtained by the date of accession. F2 For Bulgaria and Romania the accreditation must be obtained by the date of accession. F3For Croatia the accreditation must be obtained by the date of accession.

These laboratories must prove their competence by regularly and successfully participating in adequate proficiency testing schemes recognised or organised by the national or community reference laboratories.