Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION laying down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling of fresh poultrymeat intended for Finland and Sweden
Date: 1994-12-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Finland, Sweden, fresh meat, health control, import, poultrymeat

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

COM(94) 560 final 
Brussels, 06.12.1994 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

laying down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling of fresh poultrymeat 

intended for Finland and Sweden 

(presented by the Commission) 

\ 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

In application of article 5, 3 (a) of Council Directive 71/118/EECof 15 February 1971 
on  health  problems  affecting  trade  in  fresh  poultrymeatO,  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 poultrymeat intended 
for Finland 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 on the one 
hand and carcass parts and offals  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  and take  into  account  the  weight  of 
packing  units.  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 and Sweden; 

shall not apply for poultrymeat originating in an establishment which is subject to 
a programme recognised as equivalent to the one applied by Finland and Sweden. 

This  draft  Decision  has  no financial consequences  on the  budget  of  the  European 
Community. 

WOJ.N°L55,8.3.l97l,p.23 
(2) OJ N° C 241, 29. 8.  1994, p. 141 

PROPOSAL FOR A 

COUNCIL DECISION 

laying down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling of fresh poultrymeat 

intended for Finland and Sweden 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 

Having  regard  to  Council  Directive  71/118/EEC  of  15  February  1971  on  health 
problems affecting  trade in fresh poultrymeat1, 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 3,3, (b)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 whole carcasses on one hand and parts of 
carcasses and offals on the other hand; 

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  the 
weight of packing units should be taken into account; 

Whereas,  it  is  appropriate  to  take  into  account  international  methods  for  the 
microbiological examination of samples; 

Whereas, in conformity  with article 5, paragraph 4 of Council  Directive 71/118/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 and Sweden, 

rOJN°L 55, 8.3.1971, p. 23 
2OJN°C241,29.8.  1994, p. 141 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

The sampling method is laid down in Annex I. 

Article 1 

The number of samples to be taken is laid down in Annex II. 

Article 2 

Article 3 

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 is subject to the entry into force of the 
Treaty of accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland. 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Article 5 

Done at Brussels 

For the Council 

1 

.  Carcasses (with the neçk skin still attached) 

$A^PJtNGMETHOP 

Random samples shall be evenly distributed through the consignment.  Sampling  shall 
consist  of  pieces  of  about  10 grams of  neck  skin  (about  3 cm x 3 cm)  to  be  removed 
aseptically  with a sterile scalpel  and tweezers.  Samples  should  be kept refrigerated  at 
4°C  until  examination.  For examination  the samples  are diluted  10 - fold  in  buffered 
peptone  water  (BPW)  and  incubated  at  37°C  for  16  to  20 hours.  Subsequently  the 
pre - enrichment  broths  are  tested  for  the  presence  of  Salmonella  according  to  the 
method described in Annex III. Portions of the pre - enrichment broths may be pooled 
to a maximum of  10 for enrichment. 

Samples shall be duly marked and identified. 

2 

Carcasses without neck - skin, carcass parts and offals 

Pieces of tissue of about 25 grams are obtained by punching a sterile cork borer into the meat 
surface  or  cutting  a  slice  of  tissue  with  sterile  instruments.  Samples  should  be  kept 
refrigerated  at 4°C  until  examination.  For examination  the  samples  arc diluted  10- fold  in 
buffered  peptone water (BPW) and incubated at 37 °C for  16 to 20 hours. Subsequently  the 
pre - enrichment  broths  are  tested  for  the  presence  of  Salmonella  according  to  the 
method described in Annex III7 Portions of the pre - enrichment broths may be pooled 
to a maximum of  10 for enrichment. 

Samples shall be duly marked and identified. 

ANNE*  » 

NUMBER  OF SAMP! .F.S TO  RK  T A K EN 

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) 

number of packing units to be sampled 

1-24 

25-29 

30-39 

40-49 

50-59 

60 - 89 

90-199 

200-499 

500 or more 

number equal to the number of packing 
units with a maximum of 20 

20 

25 

30 

35 

40 

50 

55 

60 

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 

10-20 kg 

<10 kg 

x 1 

x 3/4 

x 1/2 

ANNEX  III 

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) 560 final 

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11 01  03 

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