Regulation 2003/2160 - Control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents - Main contents

official title

 

Legal instrument	Regulation
Number legal act	Regulation 2003/2160
Original proposal	COM(2001)452
CELEX number i	32003R2160

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Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents

Official Journal L 325 , 12/12/2003 P. 0001 - 0015

Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

of 17 November 2003

on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 152(4)(b) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(2),

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(3),

Whereas:

• (1) 

  Live animals and food of animal origin appear on the list in Annex I to the Treaty. Livestock farming and the placing on the market of food of animal origin constitute an important source of income for farmers. The implementation of veterinary measures aimed at raising the level of public and animal health in the Community assists the rational development of the farming sector.

• (2) 

  The protection of human health against diseases and infections transmissible directly or indirectly between animals and humans (zoonoses) is of paramount importance.

• (3) 

  Zoonoses transmissible through food may cause human suffering, as well as economic losses to food production and the food industry.

• (4) 

  Zoonoses transmitted through sources other than food, especially from wild animal and pet animal populations, are also a matter of concern.

• (5) 

  Zoonoses present at the level of primary production must be adequately controlled to ensure that the objectives of this Regulation are achieved. However, in the case of primary production leading to the direct supply of small quantities of primary products, by the food business operator producing them, to the final consumer or to local shops, it is appropriate to protect public health through national law. In this case there is a close relationship between the producer and the consumer. Such production should not make a significant contribution to the average prevalence of zoonoses in animal populations in the Community as a whole. The general requirements for sampling and analysis may not be practical or appropriate for producers with very small numbers of animals who may be located in regions suffering from special geographical constraints.

• (6) 

  Council Directive 92/117/EEC of 17 December 1992 concerning measures for protection against specified zoonoses and specified zoonotic agents in animals and products of animal origin in order to prevent outbreaks of food-borne infections and intoxications(4) provided for the establishment of monitoring systems for certain zoonoses and controls on salmonella in certain poultry flocks.

• (7) 

  That Directive required Member States to submit to the Commission the national measures that they had taken to achieve the objectives of the Directive and to draw up plans for monitoring salmonella in poultry. However, Council Directive 97/22/EC(5) amending Directive 92/117/EEC suspended the requirement pending the review provided for in Article 15a of Directive 92/117/EEC.

• (8) 

  Several Member States have already submitted their plans for the monitoring of salmonella, which the Commission has approved. Moreover, all Member States were required, with effect from 1 January 1998, to fulfil the minimum measures laid down for salmonella in Annex III, Section I, to Directive 92/117/EEC, and to establish rules specifying the measures to be taken to avoid the introduction of salmonella on to a farm.

• (9) 

  Those minimum measures focused on monitoring and controlling...

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