In carrying out their missions, the national reference centres shall comply with:
1° General specifications drawn up by the Minister for Health after consultation with the National Public Health Agency;
2° Specifications specific to their area of competence drawn up by the Director General of the National Public Health Agency.
The general specifications specify in particular the obligations of the national reference centres relating to:
1° Compliance with the provisions of Articles L. 1451-1 to L. 1452-3 of the Public Health Code;
2° Management of the biological samples collected and the databases relating to them, under the conditions mentioned in Article L. 1413-8 for the duration of their mandate. These samples remain the property of the State and may not be kept by the national reference centre once their term of office has expired;
3° The preparation and submission of an annual activity report and financial statement to the Minister for Health and the National Public Health Agency;
4° The conditions under which, as part of their duties, they may perform routine medical biology procedures;
5° The conditions under which they commit to a “quality approach” appropriate to their activity as national centres of reference.