The Directorate for National Reference Laboratories (DNRL) was established for the purpose of performing tasks within the area of food safety, plant health, residues of pesticides, milk hygiene and quality, and plant gene banks. DNRL has cooperations with the reference laboratories in other countries. It also establishes uniform criteria and methods, implements standards for the operation of authorised laboratories, and provides training for authorised laboratory staff. It is responsible for the testing of pesticides, certain plant diseases and plant gene banks, milk hygiene and certain foodborne pathogens.