National Reference Laboratory for pests on plants- VIRUSES, VIROIDS, AND PHYTOPLASMAS

In October 2019, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (AFSVSPP) appointed the National Reference Laboratory for Pests on Plants - Viruses, Viroids and Phytoplasmas, which is a consortium of three partners:

• National Institute of Biology
• Agricultural Institute of Slovenia
• Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing

The tasks performed by the national reference laboratory are defined in the Article 101 of the Regulation (EU) 2017/625. The main tasks of the National Reference Laboratory are:

• collaboration with the reference laboratories of the European Union
• coordination of official laboratories in the Republic of Slovenia
• coordination and guidance for the improvement of laboratory analytical, testing and diagnostic methods
• organization of inter-laboratory comparisons or proficiency tests for official laboratories
• provision of professional and scientific assistance to the AFSVSPP for the implementation of multi-year national surveys and other coordinated official control programs
• ensuring the validation of reagents, establishing and maintaining lists of available reference substances and reagents
• providing scientific and technical assistance to the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection in the event of an outbreak of a harmful plant organism and in the event of non-compliance of consignments (confirmatory diagnosis, characterization, epidemiological and taxonomic studies of pathogen isolates or pest samples).

Tasks among the partners in the consortium according are defined according to the type of plant:

• National Institute of Biology: viruses and viroids (ornamental plants and vegetables), phytoplasmas
• Agricultural Institute of Slovenia: viruses and viroids (fruit trees, grapevine, field crops)
• Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing: viruses and viroids (hops)

Links:

• www.gov.si/teme/laboratoriji-za-skodljive-organizme-rastlin/
• European Union Reference Laboratories for Bacteriology and Virology
• https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/legislation/new_eu_rules_en
• Nacionalni referenčni laboratorij za škodljive organizme rastlin – INSEKTI IN PRŠICE
• Nacionalni referenčni laboratorij za škodljive organizme rastlin – glive in oomicete
• Nacionalni referenčni laboratorij za škodljive organizme rastlin – bakterije (in preparation)