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Laboratories NIVIP – EURL, NRL en OL

In order to prevent the spread of plant diseases and pests in the EU, a network of laboratories has been established. These so-called reference laboratories establish guidelines for determining the presence of harmful organisms. As NIVIP, we make our own diagnoses and coordinate 2 European and 5 national reference laboratories.

European Reference Laboratories

The European reference laboratories (EURLs) consist of partnerships between various laboratories. They have a broad knowledge of organisms, crops and methods, and provide uniform and reliable analysis results in the EU.

European reference laboratories exist for the following groups of organisms:

  • bacteria
  • insects and mites
  • fungi en oomycetes
  • nematodes
  • viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas

We coordinate European reference laboratories for:

  • bacteria
  • viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas

We coordinate these together with our partner laboratories from Belgium, Italy and Slovenia.

EURL Bacteria

In addition to NIVIP, the collaboration on bacteria consists of the following institutes:

See also the joint website EURL Bacteriology and Virology.

EURL Viruses, viroids and pytoplasmas

In addition to NIVIP, the collaboration on viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas consists of the following institutes:

See also the joint website EURL Bacteriology and Virology.

National Reference Laboratories (NRL)

In addition to European Reference Laboratories, we also have National Reference Laboratories. We are the reference laboratory for the Netherlands of plant pathogens in the fields of:

  • Bacteria
  • Insects and mites
  • Nematodes
  • Fungi and oomycetes
  • Viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas

We coordinate the activities of the so-called Official Plant Health Laboratories (OLs). This ensures that the methods for analysis, testing, and diagnosis of all official laboratories are the same. We also improve methods where possible.

In addition, we carry out the following tasks:

  • We provide scientific and technical support to competent authorities.
  • We provide training.
  • We actively help diagnose outbreaks of harmful organisms in plants.

What do official laboratories do?

Official laboratories perform analyses, tests, and diagnoses on samples taken during official controls and other official activities.

In addition to NIVIP, the laboratories of the following inspection services are also designated as official laboratories:

How do we make diagnoses?

We use both innovative techniques and methods in combination with classical techniques. We combine knowledge of:

  • diagnostics
  • morphology
  • biology
  • epidemiology
  • taxonomy
  • molecular knowledge

What does the law say?

The structure of European Reference Laboratories, National Reference Laboratories, and Official Laboratories is regulated in the European Control Regulation (2017/625/EC).

The tasks and responsibilities that we have as NRL can be found in Article 100 and Article 101. The tasks and responsibilities that we have as OL can be found in Article 37.

You can find the list of all designated reference laboratories on the European Commission's website under European Union Reference Laboratories.