FSA Hygiene Update, 9 August 2007
Report of the meeting
Introduction and overview
This is a report of the hygiene legislation related elements (including the Microbiological Criteria Regulation) of discussions at SCoFCAH on 18 July. The focus of the report is on the results of votes on proposals; little detail of the discussions has been included in most of these. Copies of relevant documents can be found at the links below and it is recommended that this report is read in conjunction with these documents.
Regarding the review of the hygiene regulations, the European Commission (EC) announced that it would soon circulate a table of Member State (MS) proposals for amendment of the regulations that can be decided through the comitology procedure and MS responses were requested by 12 September.
The Commission proposed to include Food Chain Information (FCI) in the agenda of the next working group meeting – particularly for ruminants. It was important that the report to the EC and European Parliament on the hygiene regulations includes an assessment of FCI.
Hygiene related agenda items
Discussion to collect a consensus on the proposal from Denmark to be recognised as a region where the risk of Trichinella in domestic swine is officially recognised as negligible as laid down in Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2075/2005
Denmark was recognised under the terms of 2075/2005 as a region that may be recognised as presenting negligible Trichinella risk.
Although not required in the regulation, Denmark offered to share the model it has used with, and give assistance to, any other MSs that wished to use it.
The Commission noted the research call from European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) for harmonised schemes for monitoring and reporting of parasites in animals and food; it also noted the EFSA opinion on monitoring wild fauna was expected in 6–12 months and that Denmark may need to revise in light of its content.
Consultation of the SCOFCAH meeting on the case for a Community guide to good practice for hygiene in flocks of broilers, its scope and subject matter (KDS)
Limited discussion indicated general support for the proposal. In response to one Member State's comments that there appeared to be differences in approach between the several guides currently under development and that the Commission should consider setting up a working group to discuss guides, the Commission said that guidelines were in place already and that guides should not be seen as secondary legislation. Commission offered to discuss this matter at a further meeting if required.
Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 as regards implementing measures for certain products of animal origin intended for human consumption and laying down specific rules on official controls for the inspection of meat (SANCO/2696/2006 Rev. 9)
Annex I – some discussions, but text remained unchanged.
Annex II – MSs raised concerns, including that the proposal about ‘discontinuous slaughter' restricted the opportunity to apply risk-based controls and did not really accord with the whole chain approach to food safety controls. The issue was also raised that the amendment to Regulation (EC) 854/2004 should require an assessment of its costs and the benefit for public health protection. Adopted on a qualified majority.
Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 2075/2005 laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat (SANCO/99/2007 Rev. 2)
Agreed unanimously.
Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (SANCO/140/2007 Rev. 9)
Rev 10 (minor amendments to model document) agreed unanimously.
Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2076/2005 laying down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulations (EC) No 853/2004, (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No 853/2004 and (EC) No 854/2004 (SANCO/2162/2007)
Discussion on proposal for extension of the derogation period for trade in raw fish oil. The Commission was asked by MSs to use the additional time to reconsider and clarify the requirements for raw fish oil. The Commission would accept from MSs proposed amendments relating to standards for raw fish oil
Agreed unanimously.
Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Decision concerning a financial contribution from the Community towards a baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella in breeding pigs to be carried out in the Member States (Legal basis: Decision 90/424/EEC) (SANCO/1077/2007 Rev7)
Agreed unanimously.
Exchange of views and possible opinion (technical agreement) of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation amending Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs (Legal basis: Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 - Right of scrutiny of the European Parliament (EP)) (SANCO/1797/2006 Rev. 3)
Rev 6 (minor insubstantial amendments) agreed unanimously.