Recommendation of the EFTA Surveillance Authority of 5 March 2002 on a coordinated programme for the official control of foodstuffs for 2002
Date: 2002-03-05
Institutions: EFTA Surveillance Authority
Subjects: biology, consumer information, food inspection, foodstuff, foodstuffs legislation

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Official Journal of the European Communities

12.9.2002

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

RECOMMENDATION OF THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

of 5 March 2002

on a coordinated programme for the official control of foodstuffs for 2002

(2002/C 216/05)

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic
Area (EEA), in particular Article 109 and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement between the EFTA States on
the establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of
Justice, in particular Article 5(2)(b) and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Act referred to in point 50 of Chapter
XII of Annex II
(Council Directive
to the EEA Agreement
89/397/EEC of 14 June 1989 on the official control of
foodstuffs) (1), in particular Article 14(3) thereof,

AFTER CONSULTING the EFTA Foodstuffs Committee assisting
the EFTA Surveillance Authority,

WHEREAS:

(1) It is necessary, with a view to the sound operation of the
European Economic Area, to arrange for coordinated food
inspection programmes within the EEA designed to
improve the official controls by the EEA States.

(2) Such programmes place emphasis on compliance with the
foodstuffs legislation in force under the EEA Agreement,
the protection of public health, consumer interests and fair
trade practices.

(3) Article 3 of the Act referred to in point 54n of Chapter XII
of Annex II
(Council Directive
to the EEA Agreement
93/99/EC of 29 October 1993 on the subject of additional
measures concerning the official control of foodstuffs) (2)
requires
referred to in Article 7 of
Directive 89/397/EEC to comply with the criteria in the
European standard EN 45000 series, now replaced by EN
ISO 17025:2000.

the laboratories

(1) OJ L 186, 30.6.1989, p. 23. Hereinafter referred to as Directive

89/397/EEC.

(2) OJ L 290, 24.11.1993, p. 14. Hereinafter referred to as Directive

93/99/EC.

(4) The results from simultaneous implementation of national
programmes and coordinated programmes can provide
information and experience on which to base future
control activities.

(5) The European Commission,

in its Recommendation
the official
concerning a coordinated programme for
control of
foodstuffs for 2002, has recommended that
Member States apply a corresponding control programme.
However, the Community control programme also includes
monitoring of compliance with Community rules on
labelling of certain foodstuffs that can contain ingredients,
which may contain, consist of, or be produced from
genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This part of the
Community programme is not included in the Recommen-
dation to the EFTA States since the relevant labelling rules
have not yet been incorporated into the EEA Agreement,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS THE EFTA STATES TO:

1. During 2002, carry out inspections and controls including,
where indicated, taking samples and analysing such samples
in laboratories, with the aim of:

— assessing the bacteriological safety of pre-cut fresh fruits

and vegetables and of sprouted seeds,

— assessing the bacteriological safety of fruit and vegetable

juices.

2. Although sampling and/or inspection rates have not been
set in this recommendation, ensure that they are sufficient
to provide an overview of the subject under consideration.

3. Provide information as requested following the format of
the record sheets provided in the Annexes to this Recom-
mendation to help enhance the comparability of results.
This information should be sent to the EFTA Surveillance
Authority by 1 May 2003 accompanied by an explanatory
report.

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4. Foodstuffs submitted for analysis under this programme
should be submitted to laboratories complying with the
provisions of Article 3 of Directive 93/99/EC.

SCOPE AND METHODS

A. Bacteriological

safety of pre-cut

fresh fruits

and

vegetables and of sprouted seeds

1. Scope of the programme

There is no EEA legislation fixing specific microbiological
criteria for fresh fruits and vegetables. Experience shows that
there is potential for a wide range of these products to become
contaminated with micro-organisms,
human
pathogens. Most of
reported outbreaks have been
associated with bacterial contamination, particularly members
of (Enterobacteriaceae Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7).

including

the

aspect

contributing to the microbial

Certain factors contribute to the microbiological contamination
with pathogens, particularly when fruits and vegetables are
eaten raw. These pathogens can derive from agricultural
practices or from other processes along the production chain.
Another
risk for
consumers is the increasing consumption of new products
(e.g. sprouted seeds) or fruits and edible plants imported as a
part of the globalisation of the trade in these commodities.
Additionally, the application of technologies such as cutting,
slicing, skinning and shredding, remove the natural protective
the intact plant and open the possibility for
barriers of
providing a suitable medium for the growth of contaminants.

Good agricultural practices and good manufacturing practices
can help control microbial hazards associated with all stages of
the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, from primary
production to packing and trade. The effective implementation
of
the HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points)
principles, where applicable, according to Council Directive
93/43/EEC on the hygiene of
another
important element to ensure safety of fruits and vegetables.

foodstuffs (1),

is

The aim of this element of the programme is to assess the
microbiological safety of pre-cut fresh fruits and vegetables
and of sprouted seeds to monitor possible risks for human
is recommended to verify the
health.
application of the HACCP principles by food operators and
test
toxigenic
E.coli (in particular E.coli O157:H7) and Listeria monocytogenes.

for some pathogens such as Salmonella spp.,

In view of

this it

The competent authorities of the EFTA States should carry out
controls at the level of establishments of production and/or at
in order to verify the application of the HACCP
retail
level
principles
taking samples of
indicated,
including, where
products for analysis. These samples shall be of one hundred
grams minimum each and the product shall be kept in its
original packaging. Samples should be placed in refrigerated
containers and sent immediately to the laboratory for analysis.

The overall level of sampling is left to the judgement of the
competent authorities of the EFTA States.

Laboratories are allowed to use a method of
their choice
provided that its level of performance matches the aims to
be achieved. However, the most recent version of standard
ISO 6579 is recommended for the detection of Salmonella,
the most recent version of standard EN/ISO 16654 is recom-
mended for the detection of toxigenic E.coli and the most
recent versions of standards EN/ISO 11290-1 and EN/ISO
11290-2 are recommended for detection and enumeration of
Listeria monocytogenes. Additional equivalent methods recog-
nised by competent authorities may also be used.

The results of the controls should be recorded on the record
sheet model provided in Annex I to this Recommendation.

B. Bacteriological safety of fruit and vegetable juices

1. Scope of the programme

As for fresh fruits and vegetables, there are no specific microbi-
ological standards for juices in the EEA legislation. The Council
Directive 93/43/EEC on the hygiene of foodstuffs requires juice
to be manufactured in a hygienic way and requests food
operators to apply the HACCP principles for ensuring the
safety and wholesomeness of their products. Food operators
are
also encouraged to develop and implement on a
voluntary basis a code of practice outlining ways to minimise
the contamination of fruit while it is being grown, harvested,
stored and processed to make juice and to minimise the
is being
contamination of
stored, transported or restored into juice for consumption.

juice concentrate while it

fruit

2. Sampling and method of analysis

The verifications should concern ready to eat fresh fruits and
vegetables that have been peeled, cut or otherwise physically
altered from their original form intended to be consumed raw,
and sprouted seeds.

(1) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993, p. 1.

The experience in this sector shows that all juices (fruit and
vegetable) have the potential to be contaminated with microbi-
ological hazards, in particular juice that has not undergone any
form of heat treatment. While it is recognised that there is a
low probability for juice being contaminated with dangerous
pathogens, the consequences,
if it is, can be severe for at-
risk groups. Most of the reported outbreaks have been asso-
ciated with pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli
O157:H7.

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The aim of this element of the programme is to assess the
bacteriological safety of
fruit and vegetable juices and to
monitor possible risks for human health. In view of this it is
recommended to verify the application of the HACCP prin-
ciples by food operators and to test for some pathogens such
as Salmonella spp.,
coli
O157:H7) and Listeria monocytogenes.

(in particular E.

toxigenic E.

coli

2. Sampling and method of analysis

The verifications should concern fruit and vegetable juices, in
particular apple and citrus
juices, which have not been
pasteurised.

The competent authorities of the EFTA States should carry out
controls at the level of establishments of production and/or at
in order to verify the application of the HACCP
retail
level
principles
taking samples of
indicated,
including, where
the sampling and methods of
products

for analysis. For

is recommended to apply the same criteria as
analysis it
indicated in point 2 of paragraph A for fresh fruits and
vegetables.

The results of the controls should be recorded on the record
sheet model provided in Annex II to this Recommendation.

This Recommendation is addressed to Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Norway.

Done at Brussels on 5 March 2002.

For the EFTA Surveillance Authority.

Bernd HAMMERMANN

Peter DYRBERG

College Member

Director

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