The National Reference Laboratory for Processing Contaminants in Food and Feed of AGES is primarily located in the Department of Contaminant Analysis of the Institute of Food Safety Linz.

The National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) operates the "EU Reference Laboratory for Processing Contaminants". The national reference laboratories of the individual Member States support this Community Reference Laboratory in their tasks and demonstrate their high level of competence at proficiency tests and workshops regularly organized by the EU Reference Laboratory.

• Analysing samples within the scope of food and feed control
• Carrying out comparative analyses and providing support for field laboratories (routine laboratories)
• Developing and validating new analytical methods
• Supporting the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management with technical issues
• Providing expert opinions