(1)

Article 15 of Directive 92/35/EEC provides for the designation of the European Union reference laboratory for African horse sickness in Annex II thereto, and the listing of its functions and duties in Annex III thereto.

(2)

Article 16 of Directive 2000/75/EC provides for the designation of the European Union reference laboratory for bluetongue in Annex II(A) thereto, and the listing of its tasks in Annex II(B) thereto.

(3)

Article 32(2) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 lays down the responsibilities of European Union reference laboratories in the animal health sector. The European Union reference laboratories for animal health and live animals are listed in Part II of Annex VII to that Regulation, including the European Union reference laboratories for African horse sickness and for bluetongue.

(4)

As a consequence of the United Kingdom's notification in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the laboratory referred to in Annex II(A) to Directive 2000/75/EC will have to discontinue its function as the European Union reference laboratory for bluetongue.

(5)

In view of the synergies in technical expertise, laboratory capacity and networking with national reference laboratories arising from the genetic and epidemiological relatedness of African horse sickness and bluetongue, the European Union reference laboratory for African horse sickness, referred to in Annex II to Directive 92/35/EEC, should also assume the responsibilities of the European Union reference laboratory for bluetongue.

(6)

The Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria — Área de Sanidad Animal, Madrid, Spain of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain, which acts as the European Union reference laboratory for African horse sickness, should continue to carry out its functions and duties in accordance with Directive 92/35/EEC and should in addition take over the tasks of the European Union reference laboratory for bluetongue as provided for in Directive 2000/75/EC.

(7)

In addition, following the change of certain contact details of the European Union reference laboratory for African horse sickness to the Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria — Área de Sanidad Animal, Madrid, Spain, it is necessary to amend Annex II to Directive 92/35/EEC accordingly.

(8)

The name of the laboratory assuming the responsibilities of the European Union reference laboratory for African horse sickness and bluetongue should also be indicated as the European Union reference laboratory for bluetongue. Annex II(A) to Directive 2000/75/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9)

Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 should be amended to refer to the European Union reference laboratory for African horse sickness and bluetongue.

(10)

In order to avoid any disruption of activities of the European Union reference laboratory for bluetongue and to allow the newly designated European Union reference laboratory sufficient time to be fully operational, it is appropriate that the measures provided for in this Regulation apply as from 1 January 2019.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,