The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) was an executive agency of the UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It carried out animal disease surveillance, diagnostic services and veterinary scientific research for government and commercial organisations. It was based in New Haw, though had offices and laboratories around the country, such as in Sutton Bonington. It was both an International Reference Laboratory and the EU Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza. History 1894 - The Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) is established in a small basement room in Whitehall, London to deal with a swine fever epidemic. 1917 - The Laboratory moves to its current location in Weybridge. The site is still known as Weybridge today, although the postal address is now Addlestone. Merger with Animal Health On 29 June 2010 DEFRA announced that the VLA would be merged with Animal Health. The merger was completed on 1 April 2011, forming the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency. References External links Veterinary Laboratories Agency Avian Influenza - Reference Laboratory Agricultural organisations based in the United Kingdom Defunct executive agencies of the United Kingdom government Organisations based in Surrey Government agencies established in 1995 Government agencies disestablished in 2010 Science and technology in the United Kingdom Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom