L2218 Official Journal of the European Communities 17.8.2002 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 12 August 2002 implementing Council Directive 96/23/EC concerning the performance of analytical methods and the interpretation of results (notified under document number C(2002) 3044) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/657EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 15(1) thereof, Whereas: 1 ©) The presence of residues in products of animal origin is a matter of concern for public health. Commission Decision 98/179/EC of 23 February 1998 laying down detailed rules on official sampling for the monitoring of certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products () provides that the analysis of samples is to be carried out exclusively by laboratories approved for official residue control by the competent national authority. It is necessary to ensure the quality and comparability of the analytical results generated by laboratories approved for official residue control. This should be achieved by using quality assurance systems and specifically by applying of methods validated according to common procedures and performance criteria and by ensuring traceability to common standards or standards commonly agreed upon. Council Directive 93/99/EEC of 29 October 1993 on the subject of additional measures concerning the official control of foodstuffs and Decision 98/179/EC (°) require L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 10. L 65, 5.3.1998, p. 31. L 290, 24.11.1993, p. 14. official control laboratories to be accredited according to ISO 17025 (1) from January 2002 onwards. Pursuant to Decision 98/179[EC, participation in an internationally recognised external quality control assessment and accreditation scheme is required for approved labora- tories. Moreover, approved laboratories must prove their competence by regular and successful participation in adequate proficiency testing schemes recognised or orga- nised by the national or Community reference labora- tories. A network of Community reference laboratories, national reference laboratories and national control laboratories operates under Directive 96/23/EC to enhance coordination. As a result of advances in analytical chemistry since the adoption of Directive 96/23/EC the concept of routine methods and reference methods has been superseded by criteria approach, in which performance criteria and procedures for the validation of screening and confirma- tory methods are established. It is necessary to determine common criteria for the interpretation of test results of official control labora- tories in order to ensure a harmonised implementation of Directive 96/23/EC. It is necessary to provide for the progressive establish- ment of minimum required performance limits (MRPL) of analytical method for substances for which no permitted limit has been established and in particular for those substances whose use is not authorised, or is speci- fically prohibited in the Community, in order to ensure harmonised implementation of Directive 96/23/EC.