Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council with regard to the state of play on the control of food-borne Salmonella in the EU
Date: 2009-05-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, disease prevention, food inspection, health legislation, infectious disease, public health, veterinary inspection, zoonosis

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 29.5.2009 
COM(2009) 250 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND TO THE COUNCIL 

with regard to the state of play on the control of food-borne Salmonella in the EU 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND TO THE COUNCIL 

with regard to the state of play on the control of food-borne Salmonella in the EU 

1. 

PURPOSE 

The  purpose  of  this  Communication  is  to  inform  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council  on  the  state  of  play  on  implementation  of  the  Community  provisions 
intended to control Salmonella and the results since adoption of Regulation (EC) No 
2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on 
the  control  of  Salmonella  and  other  specified  food-borne  zoonotic  agents1  and  of 
Directive  2003/99/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of 
17 November  2003  on  the  monitoring  of  zoonoses  and  zoonotic  agents2.  This 
Communication  additionally  covers  other  Community  legislation  and  activities  to 
ensure/improve control of Salmonella along the food chain. 

2. 

INTRODUCTION 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European 
Food  Safety  Authority  (EFSA)  reported  151,995  human  cases  of  salmonellosis  in 
2007  in  the  27  Member  States  of  the  European  Union  (EU),  being  an  incidence  of 
31.1 per 100,000 population3. It is, however, evident that the number of human cases 
is seriously underestimated and underreported4.  

Part  of  the  human  cases  referred  to  above  was  detected  within  the  frame  of  3,131 
food-borne outbreaks5 which is 64.5% of the total number of food-borne outbreaks of 
known  origin.  The  Salmonella  outbreaks  affected  22,705  victims,  of  whom  14% 
were hospitalised and 23 died. Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium 
were responsible for 95% of outbreaks with known serotype.  

Humans can acquire the Salmonella infection through consumption of contaminated 
food (most cases) or drinking water. Products of animal origin, mainly eggs and meat 
(products)  are  reported  as  the  main  food  sources,  but  bakery  products,  fruit, 
vegetables and chocolate have also caused Salmonella outbreaks. 

1 
2 
3 

4 

5 

OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 1. 
OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 31.  
The  Community  Summary  Report  on  Trends  and  Sources  of  Zoonoses  and  Zoonotic  Agents  in  the 
European Union in 2007 (The EFSA Journal (2009) 223). 
Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards on a quantitative microbiological risk assessment 
on  Salmonella  in  meat:  Source  attribution  for  human  salmonellosis  from  meat.  The  EFSA  Journal 
(2008), 625, 1-32. 
Outbreak  means  two  or  more  human  cases  linked  to  the  same  source;  such  outbreaks  attract  media 
attention whereas individual cases do not. 

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An additional public health concern is the emergence of antimicrobial resistance of 
salmonellosis  in  humans  arising  from  the  use  of  antimicrobials  in  farm  animal 
production6.  

3. 

MONITORING OF SALMONELLA 

3.1.  Monitoring in humans  

Commission  Decision  2000/96/EC  of  22  December  1999  on  the  communicable 
diseases to be progressively covered by the Community network under Decision No 
2119/98/EC  of  the  Parliament  and  of  the  Council7  lays  down  the  mandatory 
surveillance  of  salmonellosis  in  humans.  These  data  are  collected  by  ECDC  via  its 
networks in the Member States. 

3.2.  Monitoring in feed, foodstuffs and animals 

The purpose of Directive 2003/99/EC is to ensure that zoonoses, zoonotic agents and 
their  antimicrobial resistance are properly monitored and that  food-borne outbreaks 
receive  proper  epidemiological  investigation.  The  results  from  monitoring  food, 
animals and feed in the Member States are submitted electronically to the EFSA.  

Investigation  of  food-borne  outbreaks  together  with  sporadic  cases  used  for  source 
attribution,  makes  it  possible  to  set  priorities  indicating  the  foodstuffs  and  animal 
populations which  should be primarily  considered  for action  to control Salmonella, 
to reduce the public health risk most rapidly and to guarantee an integrated approach. 
Both  the  ECDC  and  the  EFSA  are  allocating  considerable  resources  to  developing 
tools and recommendations to improve such investigations. 

Data  on  feed,  animals,  food  and  humans  are  compiled  by  the  EFSA  in  its  annual 
Community summary report on zoonoses. In addition, the EFSA Panel on Biological 
Hazards analyses the report and makes recommendations to improve monitoring and 
to consider measures. 

Monitoring of Salmonella has been progressively harmonised by common sampling 
protocols  and  analytical  methods  laid  down  in  the  baseline  studies  and  control 
programmes (see point 5) in the case of live animals and by common microbiological 
criteria  in  the  case  of  foodstuffs  (see  point  6.2).  As  a  result,  prevalence  data  have 
become  comparable  between  Member  States  and  risk  assessments  at  Community 
level can be envisaged.  

The  Community  Reference  Laboratory  for  Salmonella  has  been  nominated  and 
coordinates  a  network  of  national  reference  laboratories  to  improve  testing 
methodology and ensure high quality of laboratory analyses in all Member States.  

Action:  Research  should  be  encouraged,  or  monitoring  in  humans  should  be 
improved,  in  order  to  get  a  better  estimation  of  the  real  prevalence  of  human 

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See: www.who.int/foodborne_disease/resistance 
OJ L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 50. 

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salmonellosis  and  to  better  compare  prevalences  between  Member  States  and,  if 
possible, third countries. 

4. 

CONTROL OF SALMONELLA IN FEED 

Processed  animal  proteins  must  comply  with  the  Salmonella  criterion  laid  down  in 
Regulation  (EC)  No  1774/2002  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of 
3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended 
for human consumption8.  

Salmonella has also been found in a substantial number of vegetable feed materials 
such  as  soybean  meal  and  rapeseed  meal3.  The  measures  laid  down  in  Regulation 
(EC)  No  183/2005  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  12  January 
2005 laying down requirements for feed hygiene9, including an HACCP system, are 
therefore  critical  for  preventing  or  limiting  Salmonella  contamination  during 
transport, storage and processing of feed materials. 

In June 2008, the Panel on Biological Hazards of the EFSA provided an Opinion on 
the  Microbiological  Risk  Assessment  in  feedingstuffs  for  food-producing  animals. 
The  Opinion  recommends  the  setting  of  Salmonella  criteria  in  (vegetable)  feed  in 
order to prevent infections of animals.  

Action:  Consideration  of  Salmonella  criteria  in  feed.  Exchanges  of  views  with 
Member States and stakeholders are ongoing. 

5. 

CONTROL OF SALMONELLA IN ANIMAL POPULATIONS 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  2160/2003,  Community 
targets  are  being  established  for  the  reduction  of  the  prevalence  of  Salmonella  in 
poultry and pig populations. For each population a similar approach is followed: 

• 

• 

Baseline studies on the prevalence of Salmonella have been initiated pursuant 
to  Directive  2003/99/EC  from  a  few  months  after  10  more  Member  States 
joined the EU in 2004. In this way, comparable information was collected on 
laying hens and broilers in the 25 Member States. Results from baseline studies 
on turkeys and slaughter pigs in all 27 Member States became available in the 
first half of 2008. A baseline study on Salmonella in breeding pigs was carried 
out in 2008.  

In the poultry population, the baseline studies provide the reference prevalence 
for  setting  a  reduction  target  for  Salmonella  pursuant  to  Regulation  (EC)  No 
2160/2003. They also allow analysis of risk factors with a view to developing 
control  programmes.  Finally,  they  have  encouraged  Member  States  with  high 
prevalence to step up their action before the Community imposes requirements.  

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OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1.  
OJ L 35, 8.2.2005, p. 1. 

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• 

• 

• 

In pig populations, the baseline surveys provide information for a cost/benefit 
analysis  prior  to  using  the  data  as  the  reference  prevalence  for  setting  a 
reduction  target.  Additionally,  a  quantitative  assessment  of  the  risk  by  the 
EFSA  is  needed  for  this  cost/benefit  analysis.  Poultry  populations  have  been 
derogated from these cost/benefit analyses. 

National  control  programmes  are  submitted  to  the  Commission  by  Member 
States and third countries for approval each time a target for reduction has been 
agreed on. 

Control  programmes,  including  a  harmonised  monitoring  of  the  population 
apply after approval and in any case within 18 months after setting a target for 
reduction.  Placing  on  the  market  of  live  animals  and  eggs  is  restricted  if  the 
control  programmes  have  not  been  submitted  or  approved,  or  if  certain 
Salmonella serotypes are detected.  

5.1. 

Breeding hens of Gallus gallus 

A reduction target for Salmonella in flocks of breeding hens was set by Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 1003/2005 of 30 June 2005 implementing Regulation (EC) No 
2160/200310. By the end of 2009 a maximum of 1% of adult breeding flocks may be 
infected by one of the five main serotypes.  

Since the start of national control programmes on 1 January 2007, Member States are 
required  to  sample  all  flocks  or  hatcheries  following  a  harmonised  method.  If 
Salmonella  Enteritidis  or  Salmonella  Typhimurium  is  detected,  hatching  eggs  may 
no longer be produced and the hens are culled or slaughtered safely. In 2007, 1.2% or 
fewer flocks in most Member States were still infected with the five main serotypes, 
having achieved or almost achieved the target. In five Member States the percentage 
of infected flocks was still between 4.2 and 15.4%. 

Since  adoption  of  Commission  Decision  2007/843/EC  of  11  December  2007 
concerning approval of Salmonella control programmes in breeding flocks of Gallus 
gallus in certain third countries11, imports of hatching eggs and live poultry intended 
for breeding are allowed only from the United States, Canada, Croatia, Tunisia and 
Israel  which  are  the  only  countries  that  have  submitted  a  Salmonella  control 
programme equivalent to the EU provisions.  

5.2. 

Laying hens 

The baseline study highlighted the major differences in prevalence in flocks of laying 
hens, finding from 0 to over 50% of flocks Salmonella-positive. Due to this variation 
and high prevalence in a number of Member States, the Commission decided to set a 
reduction target depending on the preceding year until the prevalence falls below 2% 
(Regulation (EC) No 1168/200612). 

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OJ L 170, 1.7.2005, p. 12.  
OJ L 332, 18.12.2007, p. 81. 
OJ L 211, 1.8.2006, p. 4. 

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The  Salmonella  control  programme  in  flocks  of  laying  hens  has  started  in  all 
Member States on 1 February 2008 at the latest, including harmonised monitoring in 
all flocks every 15 weeks. 

In  addition,  the  Commission  adopted  measures  (Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No 
1237/200713) to restrict the placing on the market of table eggs:  

– 

– 

from  1  November  2007  in  the  case  where  the  flock  is  the  source  of  a 
Salmonella outbreak in humans  

from  1  January  2009  if  the  absence  of  Salmonella  Enteritidis  or  Salmonella 
Typhimurium is not demonstrated by the monitoring.  

Based  on  the  submission  and  approval  of  equivalent  control  programmes,  only 
Switzerland and Croatia are allowed to export table eggs to the EU. Only these two 
countries and the United States are allowed to export live poultry intended for laying. 

5.3. 

Broilers 

A  baseline  study  on  broiler  flocks  was  conducted  in  the  Member  States  between 
October  2005  and  September  2006.  At  Community  level  23.7%  of  flocks  tested 
positive for Salmonella. 

Consequently,  a  reduction  target  for  Salmonella  Enteritidis  and  Salmonella 
Typhimurium  of  1%  or  less  of  flocks  remaining  infected  was  set  by  Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 646/2007 of 12 June14. 

The  Salmonella  control  programmes  for  flocks  of  broilers  started  in  all  Member 
States  on  1  January  2009  at  the  latest,  and  include  monitoring  of  all  flocks  before 
broilers are sent for slaughter. 

Under Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003, Salmonella should be “absent in 25 grams” of 
fresh poultry meat from the end of 2010 on, but detailed rules still need be laid down 
by the Commission. 

Equivalent  guarantees  on  exports  of  slaughter  poultry  have  only  been  provided  by 
Switzerland. Day-old broilers can only be exported from Switzerland and the United 
States to the EU.  

Action:  The  Commission  will  adopt  detailed  rules  on  the  Salmonella  food  safety 
criterion  for  fresh  poultry  meat  before  the  end  of  the  year  including  minimum 
sampling  frequencies,  harmonised  sampling  plans  and  analytical  methods. 
Assessment of equivalent guarantees of third countries from which exports of fresh 
poultry  meat  are  currently  allowed  will  be  conducted  as  soon  as  details  have  been 
agreed for trade in fresh poultry meat in the EU. 

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OJ L 280, 24.10.2007, p. 5. 
OJ L 151, 13.6.2007, p. 21. 

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5.4. 

Turkeys 

A  baseline  study  on  turkeys  was  carried  out  between  October  2006  and  September 
2007  in  every  Member  State,  including  Bulgaria  and  Romania.  The  Community 
observed  prevalence  of  Salmonella-positive  flocks  was  13.6%  in  breeding  turkeys 
and 30.7% in fattening turkeys. 

Based  on  the  results  of  the  baseline  study,  a  reduction  target  for  Salmonella 
Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium of 1% or less of flocks remaining infected 
was set by Commission Regulation (EC) No 584/2008 of 20 June 200815. 

The Commission is currently evaluating the national control programmes submitted 
by Member States and third countries. The control programmes will apply from the 
beginning of 2010. 

The food safety criterion on fresh poultry meat will apply to turkey meat in addition 
to broiler meat from the end of 2010.  

Action: Evaluation and possible approval of control programmes of Member States 
and third countries before the end of 2009. 

5.5. 

Slaughter pigs 

A  baseline  study  on  slaughter  pigs  was  carried  out  between  October  2006  and 
September  2007  in  every  Member  State,  including  Bulgaria  and  Romania.  At 
Community level 10.3% of slaughter pigs tested positive for Salmonella. 

The  Commission  is  carrying  out  a  cost/benefit  analysis  as  required  by  Regulation 
(EC)  No  2160/2003  before  setting  a  Community  target.  This  analysis  includes  a 
quantitative assessment of risk factors and mitigation options as well as an estimate 
of the benefit for human health. It is done in close collaboration with the EFSA and 
should be completed by mid-2010. 

Action: A reduction target will be established as soon as the cost/benefit analysis has 
been completed. Notwithstanding a delay in fixing a target for reduction due to the 
need  to  collect  comparable  prevalence  data  in  the  27  Member  States  and  the 
requirement  of  a  cost/benefit  analysis,  the  legal  framework  currently  in  force,  in 
particular  the  hygiene  Regulations  (see  point  6.1)  and  the  Regulation  on 
microbiological criteria in foodstuffs (see point 6.2), already provides for a high level 
of food safety. 

5.6. 

Breeding pigs 

A baseline study on breeding pigs was carried out from January to December 2008 in 
all 27 Member States. The Commission will carry out a cost/benefit analysis similar 
to  slaughter  pigs  before  setting  a  Community  target.  This  analysis  includes  a 
quantitative assessment of risk factors and mitigation options as well as an estimate 
of  the  benefit  of  reducing  Salmonella  in  fattening  pigs.  It  is  done  in  close 
collaboration with the EFSA and should be completed by the end of 2010. 

15 

OJ L 162, 21.6.2008, p. 3. 

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Action:  A  reduction  target  for  Salmonella  in  breeding  pigs  will  be  considered 
immediately  after  the  cost/benefit  analysis  which  is  later  than  the  date  set  in 
Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003.  

6. 

CONTROL OF SALMONELLA IN FOODSTUFFS 

6.1. 

The Hygiene Regulations 

Regulation  (EC)  No  852/2004  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of 
29 April  2004  on  the  hygiene  of  foodstuffs16  lays  down  general  rules  for  food 
business operators on the hygiene of foodstuffs. It ensures food safety all along the 
food  chain  by  implementing  procedures  based  on  HACCP  and  good  hygiene 
practice.  

Regulation  (EC)  No  853/2004  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of 
29 April  2004  laying  down  specific  hygiene  rules  for  food  of  animal  origin17 
supplements  the  rules  laid  down  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  852/2004  with  regard  to 
unprocessed and processed products of animal origin. Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific 
rules for the organisation  of  official  controls on products of animal origin intended 
for human consumption18 ensures that it is implemented correctly. 

These Regulations provide a general framework for hygiene conditions that limit the 
presence  of  Salmonella  in  foodstuffs.  A  report  is  currently  prepared  evaluating  the 
implementation of the Regulations. 

6.2. 

Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs 

Regulation  (EC)  No  2073/2005  of  15  November  200519  lays  down  microbiological 
criteria for certain micro-organisms and the implementing rules to be complied with 
by food business operators. 

The  Regulation  lays  down  food  safety  criteria  for  Salmonella  in  18  groups  of 
foodstuffs,  including  minced  meat  and  meat  preparations,  mechanically  separated 
meat,  egg  products,  ice  cream  and  dried  infant  formulae.  These  criteria  define  the 
acceptability of foodstuffs placed on the market. 

Process hygiene criteria for Salmonella on carcases of broilers, turkeys, pigs, cattle, 
sheep, goats and horses are also laid down in the Regulation. They set an indicative 
value above which corrective action is required in order to maintain hygiene during 
processing. 

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OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1; as corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 3. 
OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55; as corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 22. 
OJ L139, 30.4.2004, p. 206; as corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 83. 
OJ L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 1. 

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7. 

CONTROL OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST SALMONELLA  

7.1.  Within the EU 

The  EFSA  reported  an  increasing  trend  of  human  Salmonella  isolates  resistant  to 
antibiotics over recent years20.  

The resistance in Salmonella isolates from pigs and cattle, and to some extent from 
broilers,  and  in  the  meat  thereof,  largely  resembled  the  occurrence  in  humans.  It 
clearly  demonstrates  the  presence  of  a  pool  of  Salmonella  isolates  resistant  to 
antibiotics in farm animals and food thereof.  

Since  1  January  2006,  the  use  of  antibiotics  as  feed  additives,  others  than 
coccidiostats  and  histomonostats,  has  been  prohibited  in  the  EU.  In  addition, 
antibiotics  cannot  be  used  as  a  specific  method  to  control  Salmonella  in  poultry 
except  under  exceptional  circumstances  clearly  defined  in  Commission  Regulation 
(EC) No 1177/2006 of 1 August 200621. Taking into account this prohibition, control 
programmes  to  reduce  Salmonella  in  farm  animal  populations  may  be  the  most 
efficient way to reduce Salmonella resistant to antibiotics. 

In  order  to  obtain  comparable  information  from  every  Member  State,  The 
Commission has adopted harmonised rules on monitoring of resistance in Salmonella 
isolates22. 

In  addition,  a  Community  reference  laboratory  and  a  network  of  national  reference 
laboratories  for  antimicrobial  resistance  has  been  established23  to  improve  testing 
methodology and to ensure high quality of laboratory analyses in all Member States. 

The Commission sent a mandate to the relevant scientific bodies SCENIHR24, EFSA, 
EMEA25 and ECDC to asses the risk from antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic agents 
including Salmonella. 

Action:  The  Commission  will  evaluate  the  SCENIHR/EFSA/EMEA/ECDC  risk 
assessment in order to consider appropriate options if needed.  

7.2. 

At international level 

Since  2007,  the  European  Community  has  also  taken  the  lead  in  development  of 
management  options  within  an  ad  hoc  Intergovernmental  Task  Force  on 
Antimicrobial  Resistance  set  up  by 
the  FAO/WHO  Codex  Alimentarius 
Commission. Preliminary work of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) 
is followed very closely. 

20 

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22 

23 

24 
25 

The Community Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents, Antimicrobial 
Resistance and Foodborne Outbreaks in the EU in 2006, The EFSA Journal (2007), 130. 
OJ L 212, 2.8.2006, p. 3. 
Decision  2007/407/EC  of  12  June  2007  on  harmonised  monitoring  of  antimicrobial  resistance  in 
Salmonella in poultry and pigs, OJ L 153, 14.6.2007, p. 26. 
Regulation (EC) No 776/2006 of 23 May 2006 amending Annex VII to REgulation (EC) No 882/2004 
as regards Community references laboratories, OJ L 136, 24.5.2006, p. 3. 
Scientific Committee an Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks. 
European Medicines Agency. 

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Action: The Commission will continue to support the adoption of Codex guidelines 
on antimicrobial resistance by 2011. 

8. 

SPECIAL GUARANTEES 

At the time of their accession Finland and Sweden were granted special guarantees 
with  regard  to  Salmonella.  Other  Member  States  wishing  to  send  meat  or  eggs  to 
Finland or Sweden must prove that the products contain no Salmonella, following a 
strict  sampling  protocol.  The  reason  for  granting  special  guarantees  was  the 
favourable epidemiological situation in Finland and Sweden and the strict measures 
they apply within their control programmes. 

Any  Member  State  or  any  region  of  a  Member  State  that  has  a  control  programme 
recognised as equivalent to those approved for Finland and Sweden may obtain the 
same special guarantees. 

Denmark submitted in 2007 a request for special guarantees as regards Salmonella in 
broiler meat and eggs, similar to the guarantees granted to Finland and Sweden. The 
Salmonella prevalence in Denmark was, however, not yet considered sufficiently low 
to receive the support of a majority of Member States. 

Action: The Commission will reconsider special guarantees for Denmark when the 
prevalence has further decreased and continue to assess Member States' applications 
to obtain special guarantees. 

9. 

TRAINING ON THE CONTROL OF ZOONOSES 

In 2007 as well as in 2008, five four-day training sessions on monitoring and control 
of  zoonoses  were  organised  within  the  “Better  training  for  safer  food”  programme. 
Salmonella  control  is  the  main  issue  during  such  training.  The  objective  of  this 
course was:  

– 

– 

to  equip  about  200  participants  from  competent  authorities  with  adequate 
knowledge  to  plan  or  adjust  national  programmes/plans  for  the  control  of 
zoonoses in line with the EU legislation; 

to  make  decisions  consistent  with  the  EU’s  expectations  in  the  framework  of 
monitoring and control of zoonoses and application of microbiological criteria 
in foodstuffs. 

The training is being repeated in 2009 and 2010 for other participants. 

More  general  training  on  application  of  HACCP  was  organised  in  2006,  2007  and 
2008,  attracting  over  1100  participants  from  the  Member  State  and  15  non-EU 
countries.  

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10. 

TASK FORCE MEETING ON THE CONTROL OF SALMONELLA  

The Commission established a Task Force on the control and eradication of animal 
diseases  to  improve  the  efficiency  of  the  measures  taken  by  the  Member  States  as 
well as to improve the cost-benefit ratio of the control programmes co-financed by 
the Community such as those on Salmonella. 

Between  September  2007  and  March  2009,  four  regional  meetings  were  organised 
specifically addressing Salmonella control. The Commission and the Member States 
present examined the national control programmes for poultry, shared experience as 
regards their implementation and identified areas where further actions are needed. 

Action:  The  Commission  will  continue  to  organize  specific  ad  hoc  meetings  for 
those Member States with approved co-financed Salmonella control programmes. 

11. 

COMMUNITY CO-FINANCING OF SALMONELLA CONTROL PROGRAMMES 

Under  Council  Decision  90/424/EEC  of  26  June  1990  on  expenditure  in  the 
veterinary field26, programmes to control zoonotic Salmonella may be co-financed by 
the Community. 

For 2008 twenty Member States have submitted Salmonella control programmes for 
flocks  of  laying  hens  of  Gallus  gallus  which  were  considered  eligible  for  co-
financing  and  19  Member  States  have  received  Community  financial  support  for 
implementing  their  Salmonella  control  programme  in  breeding  flocks  of  poultry. 
Measures co-financed by the Community include expenditure by the Member State 
authorities  on  bacteriological  testing,  purchase  of  vaccines  and  compensation  for 
destruction  of  flocks.  Total  Community  funding  of  €  29,935,000  was  allocated  to 
Salmonella control for 2008.  

For  the  year  2009  20  Member  States  submitted  Salmonella  control  programmes  in 
breeding  flocks  of  Gallus  gallus,  22  applications  arrived  to  co-finance  control 
programmes in laying hens of Gallus gallus and 16 Member States applied to obtain 
funding to implement their Salmonella control programmes in broilers. 

In  the  year  2009  the  cost  of  analysis  to  verify  the  efficiency  of  the  use  of 
disinfectants is considered as eligible for the first time. 

12. 

INVOLVEMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS 

Community  legislation  on  the  control  of  Salmonella  is  intended  to  increase  food 
safety  for  consumers.  It  may  also  put  European  food  producers  in  a  better  position 
for  international  trade  as  certain  importing  countries  pay  a  lot  of  attention  to  the 
presence of Salmonella in food and several currently exporting countries may have 
difficulties to fulfil the strict EU requirements.  

26 

OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. 

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At the beginning of a control programme when the prevalence is still relatively high, 
however,  the  social  and  economic  impact  of  the  measures  should  not  be 
underestimated.  The  willingness  of  stakeholders  to  cooperate  in  the  control 
programme is therefore essential if it is to be implemented correctly and succeed. 

The Commission is, therefore, pleased that stakeholders are developing Community 
guides to good hygiene practice. In particular: 

– 

– 

The  Committee  of  Professional  Agricultural  Organisations  in  the  EU  and  the 
General  Confederation  of  Agricultural  Cooperatives 
the  EU 
(COPA/COGECA)  and  the  European  Union  of  Wholesale  with  Eggs,  Egg 
Products,  Poultry  and  Game  (EUWEP)  have  agreed  to  develop  a  Community 
guide to good practice for hygiene in flocks of laying hens; 

in 

COPA/COGECA and the Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade 
in the EU (a.v.e.c) have agreed to develop a Community guide to good practice 
for hygiene in flocks of broilers and at the slaughterhouse. 

Both guides focus on the control of Salmonella. 

Action:  The  Commission  will  continue  to  encourage  stakeholders  involved  to 
develop guides to good hygiene practices in particular in pig meat production. 

13. 

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 

A substantial number of initiatives targeting Salmonella and anti-microbial resistance 
have been launched and supported by the Commission under the 6th and 7th Research 
Framework  Programme  (FP).  For  example,  the  FP6  Network  of  Excellence 
MEDVETNET  concentrates  on  the  prevention  and  control  of  (mainly  food-borne) 
zoonoses.  Transatlantic  scientific  cooperation  on  the  best  approaches  to  tackle 
zoonoses might be useful. 

14. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The current focus of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 is on controlling Salmonella in 
primary  production  of  poultry  and  pigs.  The  Commission  has  been  successful  in 
setting  reduction  targets  for  Salmonella  in  line  with  the  requirements  in  the 
legislation.  Only  in  the  case  of  pigs  there  is  a  quite  significant  delay  in  setting  a 
target,  due  to  the  need  to  collect  comparable  prevalence  data  from  all  27  Member 
States and to the requirement to carry out a cost/benefit analysis. A comprehensive 
cost/benefit analysis is considered necessary before setting a target for reduction in 
pigs  because  such  reduction  is  not  evident  based  on  current  scientific  advice  and 
experiences from certain Member States. 

The  Commission  did  not  limit  itself  to  the  adoption  of  implementing  provisions  of 
the  Regulation  (EC)  No  2160/2003,  but  took  the  initiative  for  additional  actions 
needed to increase the chance of success of its approach, for example: 

• 

by  providing  training  to  the  competent  authorities  in  the  Member  States  and 
third countries; 

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• 

• 

by convincing European stakeholders organisations to actively participate; 

by providing financial support to the Member States. 

Control  of  Salmonella  has  also  been  integrated  into  a  broad  approach  to  control 
pathogens  all  along  the  food  chain,  in  line  with  the  Commission’s  “farm  to  fork” 
approach and taking into account possible negative side-effects such as the increase 
of the antimicrobial resistance. 

The  Commission  has  stepped  up  monitoring  of  Salmonella  in  order  to  check  the 
results  of  its  own  efforts  and  of  the  efforts  by  the  Member  States  by  collecting 
reference values in baseline studies, by networking laboratories and by harmonising 
the sampling protocol. 

Since  Regulation  (EC)  No  2160/2003  on  zoonoses  control  was  adopted,  the 
awareness  and  motivation  of  competent  authorities  and  stakeholders  to  tackle 
Salmonella  has  increased  significantly,  often  resulting  in  action  before  the 
Community  provisions  became  mandatory.  The  effect  on  public  health  can  already 
be  seen  in  the  trend  of  salmonellosis  in  humans  from  2004  until  2007  in  Figure  1. 
Furthermore,  a  significant  reduction  could  be  expected  from  2009  (restrictions  on 
table eggs) and from 2011 (food safety criterion on poultry meat). 

Figure 1: Number of reported salmonellosis cases in the EU25 from 2004 until 2007 

250000

200000

150000

100000

50000

0

2004

2005

2006

2007

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