CELEX: 51994PC0491
Language: en
Date: 1994-11-17
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION laying down the rules for the microbiological test by sampling of fresh meat intended for Finland, Norway and Sweden

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)
 ---pagebreak---                             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
 ---pagebreak---                                     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
                                                   £
 ---pagebreak--- 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
 ---pagebreak---                                             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.
 ---pagebreak---                                         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!                   number of units to be sampled
1-24                                            number equal to the number of
                                                units with a maximum of 20
25-29                                           20
30-39                                           25
40-49                                           30
50-59                                           35
60-89                                           40
90-199                                          50
200-499                                         55
500 or more                                     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)          number of packing units to be sampled
  1-24                                           number equal to the number of packing
                                                 units with a maximum of 20
 25-29                                           20
 30-39                                           25
 40 - 49                                         30
  50-59                                          35
 60-89                                           40
 90-199                                          50
 200-499                                         55
  500 or more                                    60
                                                        r
 ---pagebreak--- 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         >20 kg       10-20 kg      <10 kg
         Multiplication
         value                   x 1         x 3/4         x 1/2
                                       {
 ---pagebreak---                                         ANNEX n i
     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.
                                                   ?
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ISSN 0254-1475
                                                               COM (94) 491 final
                                                      DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                              03
                                 Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-520-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-82056-X
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg
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