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National Reference Laboratories (NRLs)

The role of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and details of the UK and Northern Ireland (NI) NRLs for food and feed testing

Last updated: 15 May 2025

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Last updated: 15 May 2025

See all updates

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NRLs are specialist laboratories responsible for maintaining standards for the routine testing of feed, food and animal health. They provide advice and support on methods for official control testing, ensuring the delivery of risk-based and proportionate food enforcement to protect consumers.

Food Standards Agency (FSA) has a legal obligation to designate NRLs for food and feed. FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) designated food and feed NRLs for UK. FSA designated food and feed NRLs providing specific EU requirements for Northern Ireland.

Defra has a legal obligation to designate NRLs for animal health and live animals in Great Britain (GB). This role is undertaken by DAERA (Opens in a new window) for Northern Ireland (NI).

In GB, NRLs are designated under the Official Control Regulation (EU) 2017/625 for Official Feed and Food Controls (Opens in a new window), as amended and retained in UK legislation under Statutory Instrument 2020/1481 (Opens in a new window).

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, EU law continues to apply post EU exit in respect of the majority of food and feed hygiene law, as listed in the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) . This includes the Official Control Regulation (EU) 2017/625 for Official Feed and Food Controls . In accordance with the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP), the FSA has designated laboratories based in EU Member States to provide required NRL functions under Regulation 2017/625 for Northern Ireland. However, Northern Ireland may still refer to UK NRLs for other functions such as assistance with technical questions and support with proficiency testing beyond that provided by NI specific NRLs.

FSA and FSS designated food and feed NRLs for UK

Feed and Food Additives

Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA)
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000

Foodborne Viruses

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) (Opens in a new window)
Barrack Road
Weymouth
DT4 8UB
Tel: 01305 206600

Parasites (Echinococcus/ Trichinella/ Anisakis)

Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) (Opens in a new window)
National Agri-Food Innovation Campus
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000

Marine Biotoxins and Phytoplankton

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) (Opens in a new window)
Shellfish Toxin Unit - VSD Stormont
Stoney Road
Belfast
BT4 3SD
Tel: 028 9052 5636

Bacterial Contamination of Bivalve Molluscs

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
Barrack Road
Weymouth
DT4 8UB
Tel: 01305 206600

Chemical Hazards

Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA)
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000

Genetically Modified Organisms

Laboratory of the Government Chemist Ltd (Opens in a new window)
Queens Road
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 0LY
Tel: 020 8943 7000