THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Whereas:

HEREBY RECOMMENDS TO THE EFTA STATES:

1.   During 2004, to 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 cheeses made from raw or thermised milk,

—	assessing the bacteriological safety of fresh refrigerated poultry meat as regards thermophilic Campylobacter,

—	assessing the bacteriological and toxicological safety of spices.

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

3.   To provide information as requested following the format of the record sheets set out in the Annexes to help enhance the comparability of results. This information should be sent to the EFTA Surveillance Authority at the latest by 1 May 2005 accompanied by an explanatory report which should include comments on the results and on the enforcement measures taken.

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

SCOPE AND METHODS

A.   Bacteriological safety of cheeses made from raw or thermised milk

1.   Scope of the programme

Contaminated cheeses made from raw or thermised milk have been responsible for outbreaks of food poisoning in humans by several types of bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, verotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Staphylococcal enterotoxins.

A long tradition of production and consumption of raw milk cheeses exists in the EEA. In order to continue this tradition while ensuring food safety, considerable improvements have been made in the system of production, collection and storage of raw milk used for the production of cheeses. Particular attention is paid by the concerned food operators in terms of hygiene and control along the entire process of production.

The aim of this element of the programme is to investigate the microbiological safety of cheeses made from raw or thermised milk, in order to promote a high level of consumer protection and to collect information on the prevalence of pathogenic and indicator micro-organisms in those products. This investigation concerns a one-year programme and will be followed up, during its second year, by a wider programme on the bacteriological safety of cheeses. The purpose of this wider programme is to establish the baseline contamination in other categories of cheeses in order to be able to draw meaningful conclusions on the specific risk of raw or thermised milk cheeses. The results of the investigations of this part on raw and thermised milk cheeses will be analysed and provided taking account of the results of the general overview in this sector becoming available after the second year.

2.   Sampling and method of analysis

The investigations should concern fresh, soft and semi-hard cheeses made from raw or thermised milk. The competent authorities of the EFTA States should take representative samples of these products, both at the production level and the retail level, including imported products, with a view to testing for the presence of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and thermophilic Campylobacter 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 thermophilic Campylobacter and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes. The samples, of 100 g minimum each or of one cheese if less than 100 g, 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 ISO 10272:1995 is recommended for the detection of thermophilic Campylobacter, 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 the EFTA States.

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

B.   Bacteriological safety of fresh refrigerated poultry meat as regards thermophilic Campylobacter

1.   Scope of the programme

Thermophilic Campylobacter are a leading bacterial cause of food-related illness in humans. The number of reported human cases have been rising during recent years and epidemiological studies show that poultry meat is an important source of infection and that a significant proportion of fresh poultry meat for human consumption is contaminated with these bacteria.

There is currently not enough scientific information to set a criterion in the legislation in force under the EEA Agreement for Campylobacter and further studies are under development to further understand the epidemiology of this pathogen and the role played by other animal products and other food in general.

The aim of this element of the programme is to assess the microbiological safety of fresh poultry meat for Campylobacter in order to promote a high level of consumer protection and to collect information on the prevalence of these bacteria in such products.

2.   Sampling and method of analysis

The investigations should concern fresh refrigerated poultry meat, in particular chicken and turkey. The competent authorities of the EFTA States should take representative samples of these products, both at the slaughterhouse level and the retail level, including imported products, with a view to testing for the presence of thermophilic Campylobacter. The samples, of 10 g each taken from neck skin before carcasses are chilled or, when samples are taken at retail level, 25 g or 25 square centimetres from breast meat, should be handled hygienically, placed in refrigerated containers and sent immediately to the laboratory for analysis. In addition, for a better comparability of results, it is recommended to carry out the sampling during the period from May to October.

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 10272:1995 is recommended for the detection of thermophilic Campylobacter. 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 the EFTA States.

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

C.   Bacteriological and toxicological safety of spices

1.   Scope of the programme

Spices, herbs and vegetables seasonings (spices) are valued for their distinctive flavours, colour and aromas. However, spices may contain high numbers of micro-organisms, including pathogenic bacteria, moulds and yeasts. If not properly treated, they can result in rapid deterioration of food they are supposed to enhance. Spices have been reported to be the primary sources of food borne outbreaks when added to food where further growth of the pathogens was possible. This possibility is greater when spices are used in food which may not be thoroughly heat treated. The contamination with certain strains of moulds can also result in the production of toxins, such as aflatoxins which, if they exceed the levels laid down in the Act referred to at point 54zn of Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (3)), can provoke serious risks for consumers' health.

The aims of this element of the programme are to assess the bacteriological and toxicological safety of spices, to collect information on the prevalence of pathogenic micro-organisms and to verify that spices placed on the market do not exceed the limits of aflatoxins established in the legislation in force under the EEA Agreement, in order to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

2.   Sampling and method of analysis

The competent authorities of the EFTA States should take representative samples of spices at import level, at production level/packing establishments, at wholesale level, in establishments using spices in the preparation of food, and at retail level, with a view to testing for:

(a)

the count of Enterobacteriaceae, the presence of Salmonella and enumeration of Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens. Enterobacteriaceae count is used as an indicator for possible irradiation or other similar treatments of spices. The samples, of 100 g minimum each or one package if less than 100 g, should be handled hygienically and sent immediately to the laboratory for analysis. Laboratories are 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 6579:2002 is recommended for the detection of Salmonella, the most recent version of standard EN ISO 5552:1997 is recommended for the enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae, the most recent version of standard ISO 7932:1993 is recommended for the enumeration of Bacillus cereus and the most recent version of standard ISO 7937:1997 is recommended for the enumeration of Clostridium perfringens. 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 the EFTA States. The results of the following controls should be recorded on the model record sheet set out in Annex III, Section 1 and 2;

(b)

the levels of aflatoxins in spices, which should not exceed the maximum levels laid down in the legislation in force under the EEA Agreement. The sampling and analysis should be performed in accordance with the Act referred to at point 54 of Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement (Commission Directive 98/53/EC of 16 July 1998 laying down the sampling methods and the methods of analysis for the official control of the levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (4)). Pursuant to that Directive, the sample size must be between 1 and 10 kg, depending on the size of the lot to be controlled. The overall level of sampling should be left to the judgement of the competent authorities of the EFTA States. The results of the following controls should be recorded on the model record sheet set out in Annex IV to this Recommendation.