The first six EU reference laboratories for public health are now operational
As of 1 January 2025, the first six EU reference laboratories (EURLs) for public health became operational and will be active for the next seven years, strengthening the EU’s defences in the face of serious cross-border health threats.
The laboratories bring together consortia of scientific expertise from across the EU, to improve EU preparedness and ensure swift detection and response in case of infectious disease outbreaks.
The six laboratories cover the following areas:
- Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria
- Vector-borne viral pathogens
- Emerging, rodent-borne and zoonotic viral pathogens
- High-risk, emerging and zoonotic bacterial pathogens
- Legionella
- Diphtheria and pertussis
The laboratories will also support national public health laboratories by facilitating data comparability and capacity strengthening on laboratory methods at the EU level. This includes efforts to align diagnostics and testing for surveillance, notification and reporting of diseases.
The Regulation 2022/2371 on Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health introduced a legal mandate for the designation and implementation of European reference laboratories in public health. In March 2024, the European Commission adopted an Implementing Regulation that designated the first six EURLs for public health. A further three EURLs were designated by an Implementing Regulation in November 2024. A network of EURLs for public health will be operated and coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
