COMMISSION DECISION of 14 February 1991 laying down certain methods of analysis and testing of raw milk and heat-treated milk (91/180/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 85/397/EEC of 5 August 1985 on health and animal-health problems affecting intra-Community trade in heat-treated milk (1), as last amended by Directive 89/662/EEC (2), and in particular Article 10 (2) thereof,
Whereas Article 10 (2) provides that the Commission shall lay down the methods of analysis and testing to be used to monitor compliance with the standards relating to raw milk and heat-treated milk;
Whereas it is necessary, for raw milk, to lay down methods in particular to determine the plate count, the cell count, the freezing point and the presence of antibiotics;
Whereas it is necessary, for pasteurized milk, to lay down methods in particular to determine the absence of pathogens, the number of coliforms, the plate count, the absence of phosphatase, the presence of peroxydase, the absence of antibiotics and the freezing point;
Whereas it is necessary, for sterilized milk and UHT (ultra high temperature) milk, to lay down methods in particular to determine the plate count and the absence of antibiotics;
Whereas for technical reasons, it is opportune as a first step to lay down reference methods of analysis and testing to ensure compliance with certain standards; whereas it is in particular necessary to continue to examine the conditions under which routine, analytical and test methods must be applied; whereas, awaiting the results of this examination, it is the responsibility of the Member States to use appropriate routine methods for ensuring compliance with the standards laid down in Directive 85/397/EEC;
Whereas the determination of reference methods of analysis and testing includes the determination of the analytical procedures to be followed and the laying down of precision criteria to ensure a uniform interpretation of results;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The reference procedures for analysis and testing of raw milk shall be the following:
- determination of the freezing point,
- enumeration of micro-organisms - plate count test at 30 oC,
- enumeration of somatic cells,
- detection of antibiotics and sulphonamides. Article 2 The reference procedures for analysis and testing of pasteurized milk shall be the following:
- determination of the freezing point,
- determination of phosphatase activity,
- determination of peroxidase activity,
- enumeration of micro-organisms - plate count test at 30 oC,
- enumeration of micro-organisms - plate count test at 21 oC,
- enumeration of coliforms - colony count at 30 oC,
- detection of antibiotics and sulphonamides,
- detection of pathogenic micro-organisms.
Article 3
The reference procedures for analysis and testing of UHT milk and sterilized milk shall be the following:
- enumeration of micro-organisms - plate count test at 30 oC,
- determination of the freezing point,
- detection of antibiotics and sulphonamides. Article 4 The reference procedures for analysis and testing and the precision criteria to be applied must be given effect to and the collection of samples carried out in accordance with the rules set out in Annex 1. Article 5 The reference procedures for analysis and testing referred to in Articles 1, 2 and 3 are set out in Annex 2.
Article 6
This Decision shall be reexamined before 31 December 1992 in order to take account of developments in scientific and technical knowledge. Article 7 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 14 February 1991.