Research laboratory services

Tender description

Annex 2 to the Northern Ireland Protocol prevents the UK in respect of NI from establishing an NRL for NI within the UK, including NI. NRL functions in respect of NI will need be carried out by an NRL located in the EU or EEA. The appointed laboratory(s) will carry out the provision of Services for the National Reference Laboratory for NI for the following areas: • Lot 1 Parasite — Anisakis • Lot 2 Parasites — Trichinella and Echinococcus This NRL plays a vital role in protecting consumers from illness that could arise from the consumption of fish infected with parasites such as Anisakis, by providing specialist advice and technical support to the UK enforcement process for fish. Anisakis larvae can be found in certain species of wild fish including salmon, herring, cod and monkfish. Anisakis is a genus of parasitic nematodes (worms) whose life cycles include fish as intermediate hosts and marine mammals as the final host. When fish containing live Anisakis larvae is consumed, the nematodes can burrow into the walls of the human digestive tract causing illness including abdominal pain and nausea. Consumption of Anisakis can also cause allergic reactions. Current legislation requires fish and fishery products to be checked and any visible parasites removed before the fishery product is sold. Cooking and freezing at specific times and temperatures can also provide an alternative process for killing any parasites. The NRL for Parasites — Trichinella and Echinococcus, plays a vital role in protecting consumers from illness that could arise from the consumption of infected meat, by providing specialist advice and technical support to the UK enforcement process for meat. Trichinosis is a disease caused by parasitic nematode worms within the genus Trichinella, the larvae of which can infect both animals and humans. Mild illness symptoms include diarrhoea and stomach cramps but these can lead to more severe symptoms affecting vital organs and, in rare cases, death. Domestic pigs and some wild animals are natural reservoirs for the infection. Humans become infected by eating raw, undercooked or processed meat from pigs, wild boar, horses or game animals that contain the parasite. NI currently applies the option set out in legislation that requires that all breading pigs (sows and boars) must be tested for trichinella. Pigs not raised in controlled housing must also be tested before they can go into the human food chain. NI designates official laboratories for Trichinella under article 40.1(a)(i) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. This means that approved and designated pig slaughterhouses undertaking Trichinella testing do have to be accredited to the ISO 17025 standard.