National Reference Laboratories (NRLs)
National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) are a UK wide network of specialist laboratories responsible for maintaining standards for the routine testing of feed, food and animal health. They also provide advice and support to official laboratories on methods for official control testing.
FSS designates NRLs for food and feed for Scotland, whilst Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has responsibility for designating NRLs for animal health and live animals. In other UK nations the relevant authorities designate the NRLs in a similar fashion.
In Great Britain, NRLs are designated under the Official Control Regulation (EU) 2017/625 for Official Feed and Food Controls, as amended and retained in UK legislation under Statutory Instrument 2020/1481.
FSS designated food and feed NRLs for Scotland
Additives for use in animal nutrition
Laboratory of the Government Chemist Ltd
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 0LY
Tel: 020 8943 7000
Antimicrobial resistance
Food, Water & Environment (FWE) Microbiology Network
UK Health & Security Agency (UKHSA)
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Tel: 020 8327 7160/7325
Campylobacter
FW&E Microbiology Network
UKHSA
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Tel: 020 8327 7160/7325
Coagulase positive Staphylococci, including Staphylococcus aureus
FW&E Microbiology Network
UKHSA
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Tel: 020 8327 7160/7325
Escherichia coli, including Verotoxigenic E. Coli (VTEC)
FW&E Microbiology Network
UKHSA
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Tel: 020 8327 7160/7325
Foodborne viruses
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
The Nothe Barrack Road
Weymouth
DT4 8UB
Tel: 01305 206600
Genetically modified organisms
Laboratory of the Government Chemist Ltd
Queens Road
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 0LY
Tel: 020 8943 7000
Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) (Dioxins)
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000
Listeria monocytogenes
FW&E Microbiology Network
UKHSA
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Tel: 020 8327 7160/7325
Material intended to come into contact with foodstuffs
FERA (Materials)
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000
Metals and nitrogenous compounds
FERA (Heavy metals)
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000
Monitoring of marine biotoxins
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)
Shellfish Toxin Unit - VSD Stormont
Stoney Road
Belfast
BT4 3SD
Tel: 028 9052 5636
Monitoring the bacteriological contamination of bivalve molluscs
CEFAS
The Nothe Barrack Road
Weymouth
DT4 8UB
Tel: 01305 206600
Mycotoxins and plant toxins
FERA (Mycotoxins)
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000
Parasites (Anisakis)
CEFAS (Anisakis)
The Nothe Barrack Road
Weymouth
DT4 8UB
Tel: 01305 206600
Parasites (Trichinella and Echinococcus)
Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA)
National Agri-Food Innovation Campus
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000
Processing contaminants
FERA (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Tel: 01904 462000
The analysis and testing of Zoonoses (Salmonella)
FW&E Microbiology Network
UKHSA
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Tel: 020 8327 7160/7325