COMMISSION DECISION 93/257/EEC

laying down the reference methods and the list of national reference laboratories for detecting residues

The analytical reference procedures to be applied for the confirmation of the presence of residues of the substances listed in Annex I to Directive 86/469/EEC, with the exception of chemical elements such as heavy metals and arsenic, are the following:

- immunoassay,

- thin-layer chromatography,

- liquid chromatography,

- gas chromatography,

- mass spectrometry,

- spectrometry,

or any other procedure which fulfils comparable criteria to those specified in Article 3 hereof.

The analytical reference procedure of choice must be based:

(a) preferably, on molecular spectrometry providing direct information concerning the molecular structure of the substance under examination; or

(b) on a combination of independent procedures providing indirect information concerning the molecular structure of the substance under examination;

and must have appropriate limits of detection and determination.

The criteria applicable to analytical reference procedures are the criteria for confirmatory methods as set out in points 1.2.3. to 1.2.6. and 2.1. to 2.2.5.3. and 2.4. to 2.5. of the Annex to Decision 93/256/EEC.

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This Decision shall be re-examined before 1 January 1996 in order to take account of developments in scientific and technical knowledge.

Decision 89/610/EEC is hereby revoked.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

1. Commission Decision 98/536/EC of 8 September 1998 (OJ No L251, 11.9.1998)