Protection of human health: hygiene of foodstuffs

ACT : Commission Regulation 2073/2005/EC on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs.

CONTENT : in order to contribute to the protection of public health and to prevent differing interpretations, it is appropriate to establish harmonised safety criteria on the acceptability of food, in particular as regards the presence of certain pathogenic micro-organisms.

Microbiological criteria also give guidance on the acceptability of foodstuffs and their manufacturing, handling and distribution processes. The use of microbiological criteria should form an integral part of the implementation of HACCP-based procedures and other hygiene control measures.

This Regulation lays down the microbiological criteria for certain micro-organisms and the implementing rules to be complied with by food business operators when implementing the general and specific hygiene measures referred to in Article 4 of Regulation 852/2004/EC. The competent authority shall verify compliance with the rules and criteria laid down in this Regulation in accordance with Regulation 882/2004/EC, without prejudice to its right to undertake further sampling and analyses for the purpose of detecting and measuring other micro-organisms, their toxins or metabolites, either as a verification of processes, for food suspected of being unsafe, or in the context of a risk analysis.

This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to other specific rules for the control of micro-organisms laid down in Community legislation and in particular the health standards for foodstuffs laid down in Regulation 853/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, the rules on parasites laid down under Regulation 854/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and the microbiological criteria laid down under Council Directive 80/777/EEC.

This Regulation shall be reviewed taking into account progress in science, technology and methodology, emerging pathogenic micro-organisms in foodstuffs, and information from risk assessments. In particular, the criteria and conditions concerning the presence of salmonella in carcases of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs and poultry shall be revised in the light of the changes observed in salmonella prevalence.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 11/01/2006. It shall apply from 01/01/2006.