Justice and Home Affairs

Improved quality of DNA profiles and fingerprints in the EU

In June 2009, Sweden and Spain presented a draft framework decision on the accreditation of forensic service providers carrying out laboratory activities. The aim of the decision is to ensure that DNA and fingerprint evidence that is exchanged between law enforcement agencies in different Member States maintains high, even standards.

Photo: Per Johannessen/Scanpix

The Swedish Presidency hopes that this draft will strengthen legal certainty and increase confidence in DNA and fingerprints that are exchanged between Member States.

Accreditation improves the quality of forensic science laboratories
The draft means that all forensic science laboratories in the EU will be accredited by the relevant national accreditation bodies as meeting international standard ISO/IEC 17025 for activities associated with DNA profiles and fingerprints. When all forensic laboratories in the EU are accredited, the conditions will be in place to ensure that work is carried out correctly, equipment is tested, staff have the necessary skills and the entire organisation follows clear routines. Accreditation makes it possible to subsequently trace how an object or test has been handled from the moment it arrived at a laboratory to the moment a result is achieved.

Reduces the risk of evidence being mixed up
In concrete terms, this reduces the risk of evidence being mixed up, tests being contaminated or experts drawing erroneous conclusions. Once the framework decision enters into force, it is to be implemented within four years for activities related to DNA profiles, and within six years for fingerprint-related activities.

The aim is for the Justice and Home Affairs Council to adopt the framework decision on the accreditation of forensic laboratories during its meeting on 30 November–1 December.
 

Police cooperation and asylum policy are discussed

The JHA Council usually meets every other month. It deals with issues such as asylum, cooperation to combat terrorism, and EU-wide judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The Member States are represented by their ministers for justice, home affairs or migration. During Sweden’s six months as president, an informal meeting will also be held in Stockholm in July, hosted by Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask and Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström.

More about justice and home affairs