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, ensuring the delivery of risk-based and proportionate food enforcement to protect consumers.

FSS has a legal obligation to designate NRLs for food and feed in Scotland, while the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has responsibility to designate NRLs in other UK nations. FSS and Food Standards Agency jointly designate relevant food and feed NRLs.  The FSA also designates 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 for Northern Ireland (NI). 

In GB, NRLs are appointed under Regulation (EU) 2017/625 for Official Feed and Food Controls, as amended and retained in UK legislation under Statutory Instrument 2020/1481.

Antimicrobial resistance 

Food, Water & Environment (FWE) Microbiology Network 
UK Health & Security Agency (UKHSA) 
Address: 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ 
Phone: 020 8327 7160/7325

Bacterial Contamination of Bivalve Molluscs 

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

Campylobacter

FW&E Microbiology Network
UKHSA 
Address: 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ 
Phone: 020 8327 7160/7325

Chemical Hazards 

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

Coagulase positive Staphylococci, including Staphylococccus aureus 

FW&E Microbiology Network
UKHSA 
Address: 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ 
Phone: 020 8327 7160/7325

Escherichia coli, including Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC)

FW&E Microbiology Network 
UKHSA 
Address: 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ 
Phone: 020 8327 7160/7325

Feed and Food Additives

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

Foodborne Viruses 

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

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Laboratory of the Government Chemist Ltd 
Address: Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LY 
Phone: 020 8943 7000

Listeria monocytogenes

FW&E Microbiology Network 
UKHSA 
Address: 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ 
Phone: 020 8327 7160/7325

Marine Biotoxins and Phytoplankton

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) 
Shellfish Toxin Unit - VSD Stormont 
Address: Stoney Road, Belfast, BT4 3SD 
Phone: 028 9052 5636

Parasites (Echinococcus/ Trichinella/ Anisakis) 

Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) 
National Agri-Food Innovation Campus 
Address: Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ 
Phone: 01904 462000

The analysis and testing of Zoonoses (Salmonella)

FW&E Microbiology Network 
UKHSA 
Address: 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ 
Phone: 020 8327 7160/7325