S.L. 437.94 Art. 17National laboratories.

(1) For the purpose of implementation of these rules in the territory of Malta, there shall be designated -

(a) a national laboratory with facilities and expert personnel enabling it to show at all times, and especially when the disease in question first appears, the type, sub-type and variant of the relevant virus and to confirm results obtained in regional diagnostic laboratories;

(b) a national laboratory responsible for coordinating standards and diagnostic methods in Malta in accordance with Schedule III. The competent authority shall make the details of its national laboratory, and any subsequent changes thereto, available to the other Member States and to the public in a manner that may be specified in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 22.

(2) The national laboratories designated for each of the diseases referred to shall be responsible for coordinating diagnostic standards and methods, and for the use of reagents.

(3) The national laboratories designated for each of the diseases referred to shall be responsible for coordinating the diagnostic standards and methods laid down by each laboratory for diagnosis of the disease in question within the territory of Malta. To this end, they:

(a) may provide diagnostic reagents to national laboratories;

(b) shall control the quality of all diagnostic reagents used in the Member State;

(c) shall periodically arrange comparative tests;

(d) shall hold isolates of the virus of the disease in question from cases confirmed in the territory of Malta;

(e) shall ensure the confirmation of positive results obtained in regional diagnostic laboratories.

(4) By way of derogation from sub-rule (1), the national laboratories competent as regards the disease in question, may provide the services of a diagnostic laboratory.

(5) The competent authority shall maintain updated lists of the national laboratories referred to in sub-rule (1) and make them available to the other Member States and to the public.

(6) The national laboratories designated for each of the diseases referred to shall cooperate with the respective Community reference laboratories.

(7) The detailed rules for implementing this rule shall be adopted in accordance with the requirements of the European Community and under the procedure laid down in article 5(1) of the Veterinary Services Act.