THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Whereas:

HEREBY RECOMMENDS:

1.   During 2005 Member States should carry out inspections and controls including, where indicated, taking samples and analysing such samples in laboratories, with the aim of:

2.   Although sampling and/or inspection rates are not set out in this Recommendation, Member States should ensure that those rates are sufficient to provide an overview of the subject under consideration in each Member State.

3.   Member States should provide information as requested following the format of the record sheets set out in Annexes I to IV to help enhance the comparability of results. That information should be sent to the Commission, at the latest by 1 May 2006, accompanied by an explanatory report which should include comments on the results and on the enforcement measures taken.

4.   Foodstuffs to be analysed under the coordinated programme for 2005 should be submitted to official laboratories complying with Article 3 of Directive 93/99/EEC. However, if such laboratories do not exist in Member States for certain analyses covered by this Recommendation, Member States may nominate other laboratories providing the capacity to carry out these analyses.

5.   Bacteriological safety of cheeses made from pasteurised milk

5.1.   Scope of the coordinated programme for 2005

The aim of this element of the programme is to continue the microbiological investigation started in 2004 under the coordinated programme for 2004, which only focused on cheeses made from raw or thermised milk, in order to cover other cheeses made from milk submitted to a higher heat treatment than thermisation (i.e. pasteurisation). This extension of the coordinated programme is recommended in order to be able to draw meaningful conclusions on the safety of cheeses. The results of this investigation will be analysed and provided together with the results of the 2004 survey in order to have a general overview in this sector.

5.2.   Sampling and method of analysis

The investigations should concern fresh, soft and semi-hard cheeses made from milk which has been submitted to a pasteurisation process. The competent authorities of the Member States should take representative samples of these products, both at production and retail levels, including imported products, with a view to testing for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes and enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. If Listeria monocytogenes is detected, the number of these bacteria should be enumerated. When samples are taken at retail level, tests may be limited to the presence of Salmonella and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes. The samples, of 100 grams minimum each or of one cheese if less than 100 grams, should be handled hygienically, placed in refrigerated containers and sent immediately to the laboratory for analysis.

Laboratories should be allowed to use a method of their choice provided that its level of performance matches the aim to be achieved. However, the most recent version of standard ISO 6785 or EN/ISO 6579 is recommended for the detection of Salmonella, the most recent versions of standards EN/ISO 11290-1 and 2 are recommended for detection of Listeria monocytogenes, the most recent version of EN/ISO 6888-1 or 2 is recommended for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus and the most recent version of standard ISO 11866-2,3 or ISO 16649-1,2 is recommended for the enumeration of Escherichia coli. Additional equivalent methods recognised by competent authorities may also be used.

The overall level of sampling should be left to the judgement of the competent authorities of Member States.

The results of the controls should be recorded on the model record sheet set out in Annex I.

6.   Bacteriological safety of mixed salads as regards Listeria monocytogenes

6.1.   Scope of the coordinated programme for 2005

During recent years there has been an increase in the consumption of ready-to-eat food, such as mixed salads containing raw vegetables and other ingredients such as meat or seafood. That kind of product may pose a potential risk to public health due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes. The implementation of specific hygiene measures, including appropriate shelf life and temperature control, are essential to avoid growth of pathogenic bacteria eventually present in the products and protect public health.

The aim of this element of the programme is to assess the microbiological safety of pre-mixed salads containing raw vegetables and other ingredients such as meat or seafood, as regards Listeria monocytogenes in order to promote a high level of consumer protection and to collect information on the prevalence of these bacteria in such products.

6.2.   Sampling and method of analysis

The investigations should concern pre-packaged mixed raw vegetable salads containing meat or seafood or other ingredients which:

The competent authorities of the Member States should take samples of those products at retail level, preferably in supermarkets, with a view to testing for the presence and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes at the same time. One sample consists of one sample unit (one unopened package). The samples, possibly taken in proximity to the expiry date, should be placed in refrigerated containers and sent immediately to the laboratory for analysis. The temperature of storage and the shelf-life of the products should be recorded at the time of sampling and the information included in the explanatory report accompanying the results of the investigation.

At the laboratory, the sample should be treated in order to ensure that all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

The most recent versions of standard EN/ISO 11290-1 and 2 are recommended for detection and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes. However, laboratories should be allowed to use a method of their choice provided that its level of performance matches the aim to be achieved.

The overall level of sampling should be left to the judgement of the competent authorities of Member States.

The results of these controls should be recorded on the model record sheet set out in Annex II.

7.   Safety, quality and labelling of poultrymeat as regards the use of water retention agents

7.1.   Scope of the coordinated programme for 2005

Recent sampling in certain Member States has shown a significant number of products placed on the market with excessive added water and hydrolysed proteins used as water retention agents in poultry meat and poultry meat preparations.

Article 5(1) of Council Directive 71/118/EEC of 15 February 1971 on health problems affecting the production and placing on the market of fresh poultrymeat (4) prohibits the placing on the market of fresh poultrymeat where agents that specifically promote water retention have been used.

A recent Commission Staff Working Document (SEC(2004) 1130) has also drawn to the attention of Member States that although water retention agents may be used in poultry preparations and products, their use must be according to codes of good practice approved by Member States or to good manufacturing practices and with due regard to the rules applicable to consumer protection including food labelling legislation, as provided in Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (5).

The aim of this element of the programme is to verify at Community level the correct implementation of Directive 71/118/EEC as regards the use of water retention agents in chilled and frozen poultrymeat (chicken breast) and their use in frozen poultry (chicken breast) preparations in order to promote consumer protection and to check for correct labelling.

7.2.   Sampling and method of analysis

For sampling, analysis and calculation of results, the competent authorities of the Member States should follow the analytical protocol described in Annex V.

It is recommended to focus the sampling on wholesale supplies of frozen chicken breast as well as retail sales of chilled and frozen chicken breast. The overall level of sampling should be left to the judgement of the competent authorities of Member States.

The results of the following controls should be recorded on the model sheet set out in Annex III.

8.   Safety of certain foods for infants and young children as regards the levels for nitrate and patulin

8.1.   Scope of the coordinated programme for 2005

Foodstuffs containing contaminants exceeding the levels which are toxicologically acceptable may pose a potential risk to public health, especially for sensitive groups of the population such as infants and young children. The presence of contaminants can be reduced by means of good manufacturing or agricultural practices.

In order to protect public health, specific maximum levels of nitrate and patulin in food intended for infants and young children have been set in Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 setting the maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (6) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 655/2004 of 7 April 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 as regards nitrate in foods for infants and young children (7).

The aim of this element of the programme is to verify that foods intended for infants and young children placed on the market do not exceed the maximum levels of nitrate and patulin established in Community legislation in order to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

8.2.   Sampling and method of analysis

The competent authorities of the Member States should take representative samples of foods for infants and young children, in particular the foods containing carrots, potatoes, leafy vegetables and apple products at, in particular, the retail level, without ignoring the production and import (if relevant), with a view to testing for nitrate (foods containing carrots, potatoes and leafy vegetables) and patulin (foods containing apple products other than processed cereal-based foods).

Sampling and analysis methods set out in the following Community legislation are recommended for the official control of the levels of nitrate and patulin:

The overall level of sampling should be left to the judgement of the competent authorities of Member States.

The results of the following controls should be recorded on the model sheet set out in Annex IV.