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1. The Agency shall set up a network of forensic and toxicological laboratories active in forensic and toxicological investigations of drugs and drug-related harm (the ‘network’).

2. The network shall act primarily as a forum for:

(a) generating data and exchanging information on new developments and trends;

(b) organising training to enhance the competence of forensic drug and toxicology experts;

(c) supporting the implementation of quality assurance schemes; and (d) supporting the further harmonisation of data collection and analytical methods. The national focal points shall be informed on a regular basis, at least once a year, about the activities of the network. The national focal points shall have access to the information and data generated by the network.

3. Each Member State shall have the right to appoint to the network, through its representative in the Management Board, up to three laboratories specialising in forensic analysis, toxicology or other relevant fields related to drugs to act as national representative laboratories. The Agency may select additional laboratories or experts particularly active in forensic and toxicological investigations of drugs and drug-related harm for specific projects.

4. The Joint Research Centre of the Commission shall be a member of the network and represent the Commission in the network.

5. The network shall cooperate closely with existing networks and organisations active in the same areas as the network and shall take their work into account in order to avoid overlaps. The Reitox network shall be informed regularly, and at least once a year, about the work of the network.

6. The Agency shall chair the network and convene at least one meeting a year. The network may decide to create working groups, which may be chaired by members of the network.

7. The network shall enable the Agency to have access to forensic and toxicological data, generated or collected by laboratories of the network, including, where necessary, for the analysis of new psychoactive substances.

8. The Agency shall identify and finance specific projects to further the work of the network, as appropriate and based on clear and transparent rules and procedures. The Agency shall establish those rules and procedures prior to identifying such projects.

9. The Agency shall create a database to store, analyse and make available the information and data collected or generated by the network, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Regulation, including Article 6(8) and Article 49.