COMVIISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0M(94) 491 final 
Brussels, 17.11.1994 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
laying down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling of fresh meat intended 
for Finland, Norway and Sweden 
(presented by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
In application of article 5, 3 (a) of Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on 
health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat*'), as amended by the 
Act concerning the conditions of accession and the adjustments to the Treaties on 
which the Union is founded*2*, the Council acting on a proposal of the Commission 
shall lay down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling of fresh meat 
intended for Finland, Norway and Sweden. This should be done before the date of 
entry into force of the Accession Treaty. 
This proposal is presented with this objective. 
The purpose of this draft Decision is to fix the sampling method, the number of 
samples to be taken as well as the microbiological method for the examination of the 
samples. 
As concerns the sampling method, a distinction is made between carcasses and half 
carcasses on the one hand and quarters, cuts and smaller pieces on the other hand. The 
number of samples to be taken are based on statistical sampling schemes allowing the 
detection of 5 % contamination at a 95% of confidence level. The proposed 
microbiological method for the examination of the samples refers to an international 
standard. 
It should be noted that the proposed provisions 
• shall only apply after approval of operational programmes to be presented by 
Finland, Norway and Sweden; 
• shall not apply for meat originating in an establishment which is subject to a 
programme recognised as equivalent to the one applied by Finland, Norway and 
Sweden. 
This draft Decision has no financial consequences on the budget of the European 
Community. 
(') OJN° L 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64 
<2> OJ N° C 241, 29. 8. 1994, p. 140 
S 
PROPOSAL FOR A 
COUNCIL DECISION 
of 
laying down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling of fresh meat intended 
for Finland, Norway and Sweden 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
Having regard to Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health conditions 
for the production and marketing of fresh meat1, as amended by the Act concerning 
the conditions of accession and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the Union is 
founded, Annex I, V, E, part 1, chapter 3, 1, (d)2, and in particular article 5, 3 (a), 
Whereas, in order to lay down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling, it is 
necessary to fix the sampling method, the number of samples to be taken as well as 
the microbiological method for the examination of the samples; 
Whereas, in so far as the sampling methods to be applied are concerned, it is 
appropriate to make a distinction between carcasses and half carcasses on the one 
hand and quarters, cuts and smaller pieces on the other; 
Whereas concerning the number of samples to be taken, it is appropriate to apply a 
confidence level of 95 % to detect a prevalence of salmonella of 5 %; 
Whereas, it is appropriate to take into account international methods for the 
microbiological examination of samples; 
Whereas, in conformity with article 5r paragraph 4 of Council Directive 64/433/EEC 
the provisions provided for in this Decision shall apply only after approval by the 
Commission of an operational programme to be presented by Finland, Norway and 
Sweden, 
1 OJ N° L 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64 
2 OJ N° C 241, 29. 8. 1994, p. 140 
£ 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Sampling method is laid down in Annex 1. ' 
Article 2 
The number of samples to be taken is laid down in Annex II. 
Aûicje_l 
The microbiological method for the examination of the samples is laid down in 
Annex III. 
Article 4 
This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1995 subject to the entry into force of the 
Treaty of accession of Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway. 
Articles 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels For the Council 
J 
ANNEX 1 
SAMPLING METHOD 
J Carcasses and half carcasses ("swab technique"^ 
Samples using the surface swabbing method shall be taken before refrigeration of the carcass 
at sites likely to be contaminated. Surface swabbing shall include opening sides of the 
carcasses and cut surfaces. In addition beef and horse carcasses shall be swabbed in at least 
three areas (leg, flank and neck); whereas, pork, sheep and goat carcasses shall be swabbed in 
at least two areas (leg and brisket). 
To avoid cross-contamination, samples shall be taken without handling the meat and by using 
sterile swabs and templates. 
The sampling areas (20 cm X 20 cm) described in the above paragraph shall be swabbed with 
two sterile cotton swabs. The first swab shall be moistened with sterile peptone water and 
shall be rubbed firmly several times across the sampling area. The same sampling area shall 
be rubbed with the second swab used dry. Subsequently swabs shall be put into 100 ml of 
buffered peptone water. 
Each sample shall be duly marked and identified. 
2 quarters, cuts and smaller pieces ("destructive method") 
Pieces of tissue are obtained by punching a sterile cork borer into the meat surface or cutting 
of a slice of tissue of ± 25 g with sterile instruments. The samples are aseptically transferred 
into a sample container or plastic dilution bag and homogenised (Stomacher or Blender). 
Samples of frozen meat shall remain frozen during transport to the laboratory. Samples from 
chilled carcasses shall not be frozen but kept refrigerated. Separate samples of the same 
consignment may be pooled. 
Each sample shall be duly marked and identified. 
ANNEX II 
NUMBER OF SAMPLES TO BE TAKEN 
J- Carcasses and half carcasses 
The number of carcasses or half - carcasses (units) tn a consignment of which separate 
random samples shall be taken shall be as follows: 
Consignment (number of units! 
1-24 
25-29 
30-39 
40-49 
50-59 
60-89 
90-199 
200-499 
500 or more number of units to be sampled 
number equal to the number of 
units with a maximum of 20 
20 
25 
30 
35 
40 
50 
55 
60 
2 quarters, cuts and smaller pieces 
The number of packing units in the consignment of which separate random samples shall be 
taken shall be as follows: 
consignment (number of packing units) 
1-24 
25-29 
30-39 
40 - 49 
50-59 
60-89 
90-199 
200-499 
500 or more number of packing units to be sampled 
number equal to the number of packing 
units with a maximum of 20 
20 
25 
30 
35 
40 
50 
55 
60 
r 
Depending on the weight of the packing units the number of samples can be 
reduced by multiplication by the following multiplication values : 
Weight of 
packing units 
Multiplication 
value >20 kg 
x 1 10-20 kg 
x 3/4 <10 kg 
x 1/2 
{ 
ANNEX ni 
MICROBIOLOGICAL METHOD FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE SAMPLES 
Microbiological testing of the samples for Salmonella must be carried out according to the 
standard method of the International Standard Organisation, ISO 6579:1993. 
? 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM (94) 491 final 
DOCUMENTS 
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Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-520-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-82056-X 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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