Guidance for food business operators on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs

Wednesday 11 January 2006

The Commission Regulation on the Microbiological Criteria for Foodstuffs (EC Regulation 2073/2005) complements the food hygiene legislation and applies to all food businesses involved in the production and handling of food.

It should be stressed that the regulation is flexible in its approach, in that sampling and testing plans should be determined on the basis of risk (e.g. size and type of business).

The microbiological criteria can be used by the food business to validate and verify their food safety management procedures and when assessing the acceptability of foodstuffs or their manufacturing, handling and distribution processes.

This regulation does not introduce a general requirement for routine end product testing or the need to await results before placing a product on the market (positive release).

The Agency's consultations on this regulation, the UK Regulatory Impact Assessment and associated guidance, generated extensive comments from many key stakeholders and those concerning the clarity of the text are reflected in the final guidance. We also received requests for detailed guidance relating to the practical application of the regulation in a number of areas such as:

• enforcement
• primary production
• small businesses
• durability studies
• sampling plans and frequency
• the relationship between the regulation and food safety management practices
• transitional derogation for minced meat, meat preparations and meat products
• training for food business operators and enforcement officers

The Agency proposes to review the guidance document after 12 months to take account of experience gained in applying the regulation. We would therefore like to invite comments on the practical application of the regulation and the guidance up to 31 December 2006. In the meantime, the Agency is happy to provide advice direct to food businesses, and food businesses should be aware that some trades organisations, such as the British Retail Consortium and Chilled Food Association, have produced guidance on complying with the regulation that may also be helpful.

Contact:
Scarlet Harris
Microbiological Safety Division
Food Standards Agency
Rm 816c, Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH
Phone: 020 7276 8698
Fax: 020 7276 8907
Email: micro.criteria@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

The consolidated version of the Microbiological Criteria Regulation is available on the Commission website.