
Article 1 
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 (EC) No 852/2004. The competent authority shall verify compliance with the rules and criteria laid down in this Regulation in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, 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 (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the rules on parasites laid down under Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the microbiological criteria laid down under Council Directive 80/777/EEC.
Article 2 
The following definitions shall apply:

((a)) ‘micro-organisms’ means bacteria, viruses, yeasts, moulds, algae, parasitic protozoa, microscopic parasitic helminths, and their toxins and metabolites;
((b)) ‘microbiological criterion’ means a criterion defining the acceptability of a product, a batch of foodstuffs or a process, based on the absence, presence or number of micro-organisms, and/or on the quantity of their toxins/metabolites, per unit(s) of mass, volume, area or batch;
((c)) ‘food safety criterion’ means a criterion defining the acceptability of a product or a batch of foodstuff applicable to products placed on the market;
((d)) ‘process hygiene criterion’ a criterion indicating the acceptable functioning of the production process. Such a criterion is not applicable to products placed on the market. It sets an indicative contamination value above which corrective actions are required in order to maintain the hygiene of the process in compliance with food law;
((e)) ‘batch’ means a group or set of identifiable products obtained from a given process under practically identical circumstances and produced in a given place within one defined production period;
((f)) ‘shelf-life’ means either the period corresponding to the period preceding the ‘use by’ or the minimum durability date, as defined respectively in Articles 9 and 10 of Directive 2000/13/EC;
((g)) ‘ready-to-eat food’ means food intended by the producer or the manufacturer for direct human consumption without the need for cooking or other processing effective to eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level micro-organisms of concern;
((h)) ‘food intended for infants’ means food specifically intended for infants, as defined in Commission Directive 91/321/EEC;
((i)) ‘food intended for special medical purposes’ means dietary food for special medical purposes, as defined in Commission Directive 1999/21/EC;
((j)) ‘sample’ means a set composed of one or several units or a portion of matter selected by different means in a population or in an important quantity of matter, which is intended to provide information on a given characteristic of the studied population or matter and to provide a basis for a decision concerning the population or matter in question or concerning the process which has produced it;
((k)) ‘representative sample’ means a sample in which the characteristics of the batch from which it is drawn are maintained. This is in particular the case of a simple random sample where each of the items or increments of the batch has been given the same probability of entering the sample;
((l)) ‘compliance with microbiological criteria’ means obtaining satisfactory or acceptable results set in Annex I when testing against the values set for the criteria through the taking of samples, the conduct of analyses and the implementation of corrective action, in accordance with food law and the instructions given by the competent authority.
Article 3 

1. Food business operators shall ensure that foodstuffs comply with the relevant microbiological criteria set out in Annex I. To this end the food business operators at each stage of food production, processing and distribution, including retail, shall take measures, as part of their procedures based on HACCP principles together with the implementation of good hygiene practice, to ensure the following:
(a) that the supply, handling and processing of raw materials and foodstuffs under their control are carried out in such a way that the process hygiene criteria are met,
(b) that the food safety criteria applicable throughout the shelf-life of the products can be met under reasonably foreseeable conditions of distribution, storage and use.
2. As necessary, the food business operators responsible for the manufacture of the product shall conduct studies in accordance with Annex II in order to investigate compliance with the criteria throughout the shelf-life. In particular, this applies to ready-to-eat foods that are able to support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and that may pose a Listeria monocytogenes risk for public health.Food businesses may collaborate in conducting those studies.Guidelines for conducting those studies may be included in the guides to good practice referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.
Article 4 

1. Food business operators shall perform testing as appropriate against the microbiological criteria set out in Annex I, when they are validating or verifying the correct functioning of their procedures based on HACCP principles and good hygiene practice.
2. Food business operators shall decide the appropriate sampling frequencies, except where Annex I provides for specific sampling frequencies, in which case the sampling frequency shall be at least that provided for in Annex I. Food business operators shall make this decision in the context of their procedures based on HACCP principles and good hygiene practice, taking into account the instructions for use of the foodstuff.The frequency of sampling may be adapted to the nature and size of the food businesses, provided that the safety of foodstuffs will not be endangered.
Article 5 

1. The analytical methods and the sampling plans and methods in Annex I shall be applied as reference methods.
2. Samples shall be taken from processing areas and equipment used in food production, when such sampling is necessary for ensuring that the criteria are met. In that sampling the ISO standard 18593 shall be used as a reference method.Food business operators manufacturing ready-to-eat foods, which may pose a Listeria monocytogenes risk for public health, shall sample the processing areas and equipment for Listeria monocytogenes as part of their sampling scheme.Food business operators manufacturing dried infant formulae or dried foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below six months which pose an Enterobacter sakazakii risk shall monitor the processing areas and equipment for Enterobacteriaceae as part of their sampling scheme.
3. The number of sample units of the sampling plans set out in Annex I may be reduced if the food business operator can demonstrate by historical documentation that he has effective HACCP-based procedures.
4. If the aim of the testing is to specifically assess the acceptability of a certain batch of foodstuffs or a process, the sampling plans set out in Annex I shall be respected as a minimum.
5. Food business operators may use other sampling and testing procedures, if they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the competent authority that these procedures provide at least equivalent guarantees. Those procedures may include use of alternative sampling sites and use of trend analyses.Testing against alternative micro-organisms and related microbiological limits as well as testing of analytes other than microbiological ones shall be allowed only for process hygiene criteria.The use of alternative analytical methods is acceptable when the methods are validated against the reference method in Annex I and if a proprietary method, certified by a third party in accordance with the protocol set out in EN/ISO standard 16140 or other internationally accepted similar protocols, is used.If the food business operator wishes to use analytical methods other than those validated and certified as described in paragraph 3 the methods shall be validated according to internationally accepted protocols and their use authorised by the competent authority.
Article 6 

1. When the requirements for Salmonella in minced meat, meat preparations and meat products intended to be eaten cooked of all species set down in Annex I are fulfilled, the batches of those products placed on the market must be clearly labelled by the manufacturer in order to inform the consumer of the need for thorough cooking prior to consumption.
2. As from 1 January 2010 labelling as referred to in paragraph 1 in respect of minced meat, meat preparations and meat products made from poultrymeat will no longer be required.
Article 7 

1. When the results of testing against the criteria set out in Annex I are unsatisfactory, the food business operators shall take the measures laid down in paragraphs 2 to 4 of this Article together with other corrective actions defined in their HACCP-based procedures and other actions necessary to protect the health of consumers.In addition, they shall take measures to find the cause of the unsatisfactory results in order to prevent the recurrence of the unacceptable microbiological contamination. Those measures may include modifications to the HACCP-based procedures or other food hygiene control measures in place.
2. When testing against food safety criteria set out in Chapter 1 of Annex I provides unsatisfactory results, the product or batch of foodstuffs shall be withdrawn or recalled in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. However, products placed on the market, which are not yet at retail level and which do not fulfil the food safety criteria, may be submitted to further processing by a treatment eliminating the hazard in question. This treatment may only be carried out by food business operators other than those at retail level.The food business operator may use the batch for purposes other than those for which it was originally intended, provided that this use does not pose a risk for public or animal health and provided that this use has been decided within the procedures based on HACCP principles and good hygiene practice and authorised by the competent authority.
3. A batch of mechanically separated meat (MSM) produced with the techniques referred to in Chapter III, paragraph 3, in Section V of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, with unsatisfactory results in respect of the Salmonella criterion, may be used in the food chain only to manufacture heat-treated meat products in establishments approved in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.
4. In the event of unsatisfactory results as regards process hygiene criteria the actions laid down in Annex I, Chapter 2 shall be taken.
Article 8 

1. A transitional derogation is granted until 31 December 2009 at the latest pursuant to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 as regards compliance with the value set in Annex I to this Regulation for Salmonella in minced meat, meat preparations and meat products intended to be eaten cooked placed on the national market of a Member State.
2. The Member States using this possibility shall notify the Commission and other Member States thereof. The Member State shall:
(a) guarantee that the appropriate means, including labelling and a special mark, which cannot be confused with the identification mark provided for in Annex II, Section I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, are in place to ensure that the derogation applies only to the products concerned when placed on the domestic market, and that products dispatched for intra-Community trade comply with the criteria laid down in Annex I;
(b) provide that the products to which such transitional derogation applies shall be clearly labelled that they must be thoroughly cooked prior to consumption;
(c) undertake that when testing against the Salmonella criterion pursuant to Article 4, and for the result to be acceptable as regards such transitional derogation, no more than one out of five sample units shall be found to be positive.
Article 9 
Food business operators shall analyse trends in the test results. When they observe a trend towards unsatisfactory results, they shall take appropriate actions without undue delay to remedy the situation in order to prevent the occurrence of microbiological risks.
Article 10 
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.
Article 11 
Decision 93/51/EEC is repealed.
Article 12 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2006.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 15 November 2005.
For the Commission
Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission
ANNEX I

Chapter 1. Food safety criteria
Food category Micro-organisms/their toxins, metabolites Sampling-plan Limits Analytical reference method Stage where the criterion applies
n c m M

1.1. Ready-to-eat foods intended for infants and ready-to-eat foods for special medical purposes
 Listeria monocytogenes 10 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 11290-1 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.2. Ready-to-eat foods able to support the growth of L. monocytogenes, other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes
 Listeria monocytogenes 5 0 100 cfu/g EN/ISO 11290-2 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life
5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 11290-1 Before the food has left the immediate control of the food business operator, who has produced it

1.3. Ready-to-eat foods unable to support the growth of L. monocytogenes, other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes
 Listeria monocytogenes 5 0 100 cfu/g EN/ISO 11290-2 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.4. Minced meat and meat preparations intended to be eaten raw
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.5. Minced meat and meat preparations made from poultry meat intended to be eaten cooked
 Salmonella 5 0 From 1.1.2006Absence in 10 gFrom 1.1.2010Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.6. Minced meat and meat preparations made from other species than poultry intended to be eaten cooked
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 10 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.7. Mechanically separated meat (MSM)
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 10 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.8. Meat products intended to be eaten raw, excluding products where the manufacturing process or the composition of the product will eliminate the salmonella risk
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.9. Meat products made from poultry meat intended to be eaten cooked
 Salmonella 5 0 From 1.1.2006Absence in 10 gFrom 1.1.2010Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.10. Gelatine and collagen
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.11. Cheeses, butter and cream made from raw milk or milk that has undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.12. Milk powder and whey powder
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.13. Ice cream, excluding products where the manufacturing process or the composition of the product will eliminate the salmonella risk
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.14. Egg products, excluding products where the manufacturing process or the composition of the product will eliminate the salmonella risk
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.15. Ready-to-eat foods containing raw egg, excluding products where the manufacturing process or the composition of the product will eliminate the salmonella risk
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g or ml EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.16. Cooked crustaceans and molluscan shellfish
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.17. Live bivalve molluscs and live echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.18. Sprouted seeds (ready-to-eat)
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.19. Pre-cut fruit and vegetables (ready-to-eat)
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.20. Unpasteurised fruit and vegetable juices (ready-to-eat)
 Salmonella 5 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.21. Cheeses, milk powder and whey powder, as referred to in the coagulase-positive staphylococci criteria in Chapter 2.2 of this Annex
 Staphylococcal enterotoxins 5 0 Not detected in 25g European screening method of the CRL for Milk Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.22. Dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below six months of age, as referred to in the Enterobacteriaceae criterion in Chapter 2.2 of this Annex
 Salmonella 30 0 Absence in 25 g EN/ISO 6579 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.23. Dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below six months of age, as referred to in the Enterobacteriaceae criterion in Chapter 2.2 of this Annex
 Enterobacter sakazakii 30 0 Absence in 10 g ISO/DTS 22964 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.24. Live bivalve molluscs and live echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods
 E.coli 1 0 230 MPN/100g of flesh and intra-valvular liquid ISO TS 16649-3 Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.25. Fishery products from fish species associated with a high amount of histidine
 Histamine 9 2 100mg/kg 200mg/kg HPLC Products placed on the market during their shelf-life

1.26. Fishery products which have undergone enzyme maturation treatment in brine, manufactured from fish species associated with a high amount of histidine
 Histamine 9 2 200mg/kg 400mg/kg HPLC Products placed on the market during their shelf-life



















The limits given refer to each sample unit tested, excluding live bivalve molluscs and live echinoderms, tunicates and gastropods in relation to testing E. coli, where the limit refers to a pooled sample.

The test results demonstrate the microbiological quality of the batch tested.

L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods intended for infants and for special medical purposes:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed indicate the absence of the bacterium,
— unsatisfactory, if the presence of the bacterium is detected in any of the sample units.

L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods able to support the growth of L. monocytogenes before the food has left the immediate control of the producing food business operator when he is not able to demonstrate that the product will not exceed the limit of 100 cfu/g throughout the shelf-life:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed indicate the absence of the bacterium,
— unsatisfactory, if the presence of the bacterium is detected in any of the sample units.

L. monocytogenes in other ready-to-eat foods and E. coli in live bivalve molluscs:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed are ≤ the limit,
— unsatisfactory, if any of the values are > the limit.

Salmonella in different food categories:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed indicate the absence of the bacterium,
— unsatisfactory, if the presence of the bacterium is detected in any of the sample units.

Staphylococcal enterotoxins in dairy products:


— satisfactory, if in all the sample units the enterotoxins are not detected,
— unsatisfactory, if the enterotoxins are detected in any of the sample units.

Enterobactersakazakii in dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below 6 months of age:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed indicate the absence of the bacterium,
— unsatisfactory, if the presence of the bacterium is detected in any of the sample units.

Histamine in fishery products from fish species associated with a high amount of histidine:


— satisfactory, if the following requirements are fulfilled:
1.. the mean value observed is ≤ m
2.. a maximum of c/n values observed are between m and M
3.. no values observed exceed the limit of M,
— unsatisfactory, if the mean value observed exceeds m or more than c/n values are between m and M or one or more of the values observed are >M.

Chapter 2. Process hygiene criteria
2.1. 

Food category Micro-organisms Sampling plan Limits Analytical reference method Stage where the criterion applies Action in case of unsatisfactory results
n c m M
 2.1.1. Carcases of cattle, sheep, goats and horses
 Aerobic colony count   3,5 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log 5,0 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log ISO 4833 Carcases after dressing but before chilling Improvements in slaughter hygiene and review of process controls
Enterobacteriaceae   1,5 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log 2,5 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log ISO 21528-2 Carcases after dressing but before chilling Improvements in slaughter hygiene and review of process controls
 2.1.2. Carcases of pigs
 Aerobic colony count   4,0 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log 5,0 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log ISO 4833 Carcases after dressing but before chilling Improvements in slaughter hygiene and review of process controls
Enterobacteriaceae   2,0 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log 3,0 log cfu/cm2 daily mean log ISO 21528-2 Carcases after dressing but before chilling Improvements in slaughter hygiene and review of process controls
 2.1.3. Carcases of cattle, sheep, goats and horses
 Salmonella 50 2 Absence in the area tested per carcase EN/ISO 6579 Carcases after dressing but before chilling Improvements in slaughter hygiene, review of process controls and of origin of animals
 2.1.4. Carcases of pig
 Salmonella 50 5 Absence in the area tested per carcase EN/ISO 6579 Carcases after dressing but before chilling Improvements in slaughter hygiene and review of process controls, origin of animals and of the biosecurity measures in the farms of origin
 2.1.5. Poultry carcases of broilers and turkeys
 Salmonella 50 7 Absence in 25 g of a pooled sample of neck skin EN/ISO 6579 Carcases after chilling Improvements in slaughter hygiene and review of process controls, origin of animals and biosecurity measures in the farms of origin
 2.1.6. Minced meat
 Aerobic colony count 5 2 5x105 cfu/g 5x106 cfu/g ISO 4833 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene and improvements in selection and/or origin of raw materials
E.coli 5 2 50 cfu/g 500 cfu/g ISO 16649-1 or 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene and improvements in selection and/or origin of raw materials
 2.1.7. Mechanically separated meat (MSM)
 Aerobic colony count 5 2 5x105 cfu/g 5x106 cfu/g ISO 4833 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene and improvements in selection and/or origin of raw materials
E.coli 5 2 50 cfu/g 500 cfu/g ISO 16649-1 or 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene and improvements in selection and/or origin of raw materials
 2.1.8. Meat preparations
 E.coli 5 2 500 cfu/g or cm2 5 000 cfu/g or cm2 ISO 16649-1 or 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene and improvements in selection and/or origin of raw materials










The limits given refer to each sample unit tested, excluding testing of carcases where the limits refer to pooled samples.

The test results demonstrate the microbiological quality of the process tested.

Enterobacteriaceae and aerobic colony count in carcases of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and pigs:


— satisfactory, if the daily mean log is < m,
— acceptable, if the daily mean log is between m and M,
— unsatisfactory, if the daily mean log is >M.

Salmonella in carcases:


— satisfactory, if the presence of Salmonella is detected in a maximum of c/n samples,
— unsatisfactory, if the presence of Salmonella is detected in more than c/n samples.

After each sampling session, the results of the last ten sampling sessions are assessed in order to obtain the n number of samples.

E. coli and aerobic colony count in minced meat, meat preparations and mechanically separated meat (MSM):


— satisfactory, if all the values observed are < m,
— acceptable, if a maximum of c/n values are between m and M, and the rest of the values observed are < m,
— unsatisfactory, if one or more of the values observed are >M or more than c/n values are between m and M.

2.2. 

Food category Micro-organisms Sampling plan Limits Analytical reference method Stage where the criterion applies Action in case of unsatisfactory results
n c m M
 2.2.1. Pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products
 Enterobacteriaceae 5 2 <1 cfu/ml 5 cfu/ml ISO 21528-1 End of the manufacturing process Check on the efficiency of heat- treatment and prevention of recontamination as well as the quality of raw materials
 2.2.2. Cheeses made from milk or whey that has undergone heat treatment
 E.coli 5 2 100 cfu/g 1 000 cfu/g ISO 16649- 1 or 2 At the time during the manufacturing process when the E. coli count is expected to be highest Improvements in production hygiene and selection of raw materials
 2.2.3. Cheeses made from raw milk
 Coagulase-positive staphylococci 5 2 104 cfu/g 105 cfu/g EN/ISO 6888-2 At the time during the manufacturing process when the number of staphylococci is expected to be highest Improvements in production hygiene and selection of raw materials. If values >105 cfu/g are detected, the cheese batch has to be tested for staphylococcal enterotoxins.
 2.2.4. Cheeses made from milk that has undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation and ripened cheeses made from milk or whey that has undergone pasteurisation or a stronger heat treatment
 Coagulase-positive staphylococci 5 2 100 cfu/g 1 000 cfu/g EN/ISO 6888-1 or 2
 2.2.5. Unripened soft cheeses (fresh cheeses) made from milk or whey that has undergone pasteurisation or a stronger heat treatment
 Coagulase-positive staphylococci 5 2 10 cfu/g 100 cfu/g EN/ISO 6888-1 or 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene. If values > 105 cfu/g are detected, the cheese batch has to be tested for staphylococcal enterotoxins.
 2.2.6. Butter and cream made from raw milk or milk that has undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation
 E.coli 5 2 10 cfu/g 100 cfu/g ISO 16649- 1 or 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene and selection of raw materials
 2.2.7. Milk powder and whey powder
 Enterobacteriaceae 5 0 10 cfu/g ISO 21528- 1 End of the manufacturing process Check on the efficiency of heat treatment and prevention of recontamination
Coagulase-positive staphylococci 5 2 10 cfu/g 100 cfu/g EN/ISO 6888-1 or 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene. If values > 105 cfu/g are detected, the batch has to be tested for staphylococcal enterotoxins.
 2.2.8. Ice cream and frozen dairy desserts
 Enterobacteriaceae 5 2 10 cfu/g 100 cfu/g ISO 21528- 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene
 2.2.9. Dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below six months of age
 Enterobacteriaceae 10 0 Absence in 10 g ISO 21528- 1 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene to minimise contamination. If Enterobacteriaceae are detected in any of the sample units, the batch has to be tested for E. sakazakii and Salmonella









The limits given refer to each sample unit tested.

The test results demonstrate the microbiological quality of the process tested.

Enterobacteriaceae in dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below six months of age:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed indicate the absence of the bacterium,
— unsatisfactory, if the presence of the bacterium is detected in any of the sample units

E. coli, enterobacteriaceae (other food categories) and coagulase-positive staphylococci:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed are < m,
— acceptable, if a maximum of c/n values are between m and M, and the rest of the values observed are < m,
— unsatisfactory, if one or more of the values observed are >M or more than c/n values are between m and M.

2.3. 

Food category Micro-organisms Sampling plan Limits Analytical reference method Stage where the criterion applies Action in case of unsatisfactory results
n c m M
 2.3.1. Egg products
 Enterobacteriaceae 5 2 10 cfu/g or ml 100 cfu/g or ml ISO 21528-2 End of the manufacturing process Checks on the efficiency of the heat treatment and prevention of recontamination



The limits given refer to each sample unit tested.

The test results demonstrate the microbiological quality of the process tested.

Enterobacteriaceae in egg products:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed are < m,
— acceptable, if a maximum of c/n values are between m and M, and the rest of the values observed are < m,
— unsatisfactory, if one or more of the values observed are >M or more than c/n values are between m and M.

2.4. 

Food category Micro-organisms Sampling plan Limits Analytical reference method Stage where the criterion applies Action in case of unsatisfactory results
n c m M
 2.4.1. Shelled and shucked products of cooked crustaceans and molluscan shellfish
 E.coli 5 2 1 cfu/g 10 cfu/g ISO TS 16649-3 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene
Coagulase-positive staphylococci 5 2 100 cfu/g 1 000 cfu/g EN/ISO 6888-1 or 2 End of the manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene



The limits given refer to each sample unit tested.

The test results demonstrate the microbiological quality of the process tested.

E. coli in shelled and shucked products of cooked crustaceans and molluscan shellfish:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed are < m,
— acceptable, if a maximum of c/n values are between m and M, and the rest of the values observed are ≤ m,
— unsatisfactory, if one or more of the values observed are >M or more than c/n values are between m and M.

Coagulase-positive staphylococci in shelled and cooked crustaceans and molluscan shellfish:


— satisfactory, if all the values observed are < m,
— acceptable, if a maximum of c/n values are between m and M, and the rest of the values observed are < m,
— unsatisfactory, if one or more of the values observed are >M or more than c/n values are between m and M.

2.5. 

Food category Micro-organisms Sampling plan Limits Analytical reference method Stage where the criterion applies Action in case of unsatisfactory results
n c m M
 2.5.1. Pre-cut fruit and vegetables (ready-to-eat)
 E.coli 5 2 100 cfu/g 1 000 cfu/g ISO 16649- 1 or 2 Manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene, selection of raw materials
 2.5.2. Unpasteurised fruit and vegetable juices (ready-to-eat)
 E.coli 5 2 100 cfu/g 1 000 cfu/g ISO 16649- 1 or 2 Manufacturing process Improvements in production hygiene, selection of raw materials



The limits given refer to each sample unit tested.

The test results demonstrate the microbiological quality of the process tested.

E. coli in pre-cut fruit and vegetables (ready-to-eat) and in unpasteurised fruit and vegetable juices (ready-to-eat):


— satisfactory, if all the values observed are < m,
— acceptable, if a maximum of c/n values are between m and M, and the rest of the values observed are ≤ m,
— unsatisfactory, if one or more of the values observed are >M or more than c/n values are between m and M.

Chapter 3. Rules for sampling and preparation of test samples
3.1. 
In the absence of more specific rules on sampling and preparation of test samples, the relevant standards of the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) and the guidelines of the Codex Alimentarius shall be used as reference methods.

3.2. 
The destructive and non-destructive sampling methods, the selection of the sampling sites and the rules for storage and transport of samples are described in standard ISO 17604.

Five carcases shall be sampled at random during each sampling session. Sample sites should be selected taking into account the slaughter technology used in each plant.

When sampling for analyses of enterobacteriaceae and aerobic colony counts, four sites of each carcase shall be sampled. Four tissue samples representing a total of 20 cm2 shall be obtained by the destructive method. When using the non-destructive method for this purpose, the sampling area shall cover a minimum of 100 cm2 (50 cm2 for small ruminant carcases) per sampling site.

When sampling for Salmonella analyses, an abrasive sponge sampling method shall be used. The sampling area shall cover a minimum of 100 cm2 per site selected.

When samples are taken from the different sampling sites on the carcase, they shall be pooled before examination.

For the Salmonella analyses, a minimum of 15 carcases shall be sampled at random during each sampling session and after chilling. A piece of approximately 10 g from neck skin shall be obtained from each carcase. On each occasion the neck skin samples from three carcases shall be pooled before examination in order to form 5 x 25 g final samples.

More detailed guidelines on the sampling of carcases, in particular concerning the sampling sites, may be included in the guides to good practice referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.

However, when justified on the basis of a risk analysis and consequently authorised by the competent authority, small slaughterhouses and establishments producing minced meat and meat preparations in small quantities may be exempted from these sampling frequencies.

In the case of sampling for Salmonella analyses of minced meat, meat preparations and carcases, the frequency can be reduced to fortnightly if satisfactory results have been obtained for 30 consecutive weeks. The salmonella sampling frequency may also be reduced if there is a national or regional salmonella control programme in place and if this programme includes testing that replaces the described sampling. The sampling frequency may be further reduced if the national or regional salmonella control programme demonstrates that the salmonella prevalence is low in animals purchased by the slaughterhouse.

As regards the sampling of minced meat and meat preparations for E. coli and aerobic colony count analyses and the sampling of carcases for enterobacteriaceae and aerobic colony count analyses, the frequency may be reduced to fortnightly testing if satisfactory results are obtained for six consecutive weeks.

The food business operators of slaughterhouses or establishments producing minced meat, meat preparations or mechanically separated meat shall take samples for microbiological analysis at least once a week. The day of sampling shall be changed each week to ensure that each day of the week is covered.

ANNEX II

The studies referred to in Article 3(2) shall include:

— specifications for physico-chemical characteristics of the product, such as pH, aw, salt content, concentration of preservatives and the type of packaging system, taking into account the storage and processing conditions, the possibilities for contamination and the foreseen shelf-life, and
— consultation of available scientific literature and research data regarding the growth and survival characteristics of the micro-organisms of concern.
When necessary on the basis of the abovementioned studies, the food business operator shall conduct additional studies, which may include:

— predictive mathematical modelling established for the food in question, using critical growth or survival factors for the micro-organisms of concern in the product,
— tests to investigate the ability of the appropriately inoculated micro-organism of concern to grow or survive in the product under different reasonably foreseeable storage conditions,
— studies to evaluate the growth or survival of the micro-organisms of concern that may be present in the product during the shelf-life under reasonably foreseeable conditions of distribution, storage and use.
The above mentioned studies shall take into account the inherent variability linked to the product, the micro-organisms in question and the processing and storage conditions.
