No L 279/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 9. 89 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 25 September 1989 designating a reference laboratory for the identification of foot-and-mouth disease virus and determining the functions of that laboratory (89/531/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to -Council Directive 85/511/EEC of 18 November 1985 introducing Community measures _for the control of foot-and-mouth:disease (), and in particular Article 11 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the measures provided for in -Article 11 of Directive 85/511/EEC require the designation of a reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease virus identification ; whereas it is also necessary to determine the functions and duties of such a laboratory 'together with the detailed rules by which the coordination of- standards and methods of diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease in each Member State shall be achieved ; Whereas the reference laboratory will build up, store and supply when necessary to the national laboratories, diagnostic agents so that diagnosis in the said national laboratories is carried out in a uniform manner ; whereas. the reference laboratory must organize comparative trials, . carry out further training of experts, and develop data and- information systems for the use of the Commission and the Member- States ; Whereas the reference laboratory must operate under conditions of strict disease security; whereas the laboratory will formulate guidelines for the said security in the respective national laboratories ; Whereas in respect of the reference laboratory a contract will- be drawn up providing for appropriate financial support from the general budget of the  European: Communities, () OJ No L 315, 26. 11. 1985, p. 11. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 Liaison ‘between the national laboratories in the field of diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease and the implemen- tation of the reference functions for identification -of-the foot-and-mouth disease virus shall be carried out by ‘The Institute. for Animal Health; Pirbright Laboratory, England, hereinafter referred  to- as the ‘reference laboratory’. Article 2. The functions and duties- of the reference laboratory designated in Article 1 shall be: 1. to ensure liaison between the laboratories of -the Member States with. regard to the standards and methods of diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease, and differential . diagnosis, where necessary, in.- each Member State specifically by: - (a) receiving field samples from Member States and -~ certain third countries with a view to determining their identity ; (b) typing and full - strain characterization - of foot-and-mouth. disease. virus - from  the samples referred to in point (a) and communicating. the results of such investigations- without delay to the Commission and the Member State concerned ; (c) building up - and maintaining an up-to-date collection of foot-and-mouth disease virus strains ; (d) building up and maintaining a collection of specific sera against foot-and-mouth disease virus strains ;