August 3, 2006

EU adopts rules to reduce salmonella in poultry

The European Commission, the European Union (EU)'s executive body, approved two regulations on Tuesday (Aug 1) to control Salmonella in poultry and eggs across the EU, the commission said in a press release.

The first regulation sets out targets for the reduction of Salmonella in laying hens.

Each EU member state is assigned an annual target to reduce the number of laying hens infected with Salmonella  by a minimum percentage. Countries with high percentages would have to make steeper cuts.

The EU aims to bring down Salmonella levels to 2 percent or less by 2008. Members are expected to submit their programmes by early 2007.

The second regulation sets out rules on the methods used to control Salmonella in poultry. These measures include mandatory vaccination from 2008 onwards for laying hens with a Salmonella prevalence of 10 percent or more.

The Commission is also hoping the date to institute bans on eggs derived from Salmonella-infected flocks can be brought forward. The adopted date currently is 2010.

Salmonella bacteria are frequently responsible for food-borne diseases. Poultry meat and eggs are among the main sources of Salmonella infection in humans.

The European Food Safety Authority recently found that Salmonella levels in laying hens ranged from 0 to as high as 79 percent across the EU.

Targets have already been set for breeding hens, and the European Commission is working on similar measures to reduce Salmonella in broiler hens, turkeys and certain breeds of pig.