FSA Local Authority Letter (ENF/E/06/073), 21 November 2006
You will wish to be aware that a European Commission Guidance Document on official controls, under Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, concerning microbiological sampling and testing of foodstuffs has been published on the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General website at the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/controls/foodfeed/sampling_testing.pdf
As regards the status of the above document, you may recall from previous correspondence that the preface of the Code of Practice for England issued in March 2006 indicates that Food Authorities should take into account guidance issued by the European Commission as well as Practice Guidance issued by the Agency.
[A copy of the document is also available on this site. See: Guidance on sampling and testing]