October 20,  2020

EU updates regulations in Trichinella control

The Official Journal of the European Union has published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1478 of October 14, 2020, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 in regards to sampling, the reference method for detection and import conditions related to Trichinella control.

This regulation replaces the reference method previously established by ISO 18743:2015 in order to achieve a harmonisation of the application criteria for this international standard in the European Union, which will facilitate the export of pig meat without creating additional requirements or burdens for European laboratories that use the reference methods in their official control work.

Cutting of domestic pig carcasses into more than six pieces is permitted in a cutting room located on the same premises or in rooms adjacent to the slaughterhouse before the results of the Trichinella analysis are known, provided that compliance with certain requirements is ensured without compromising the safety of consumers of these products.

This option is in response to a specific proposal from Spain to the European Commission, which was approved by other EU countries.

In establishments producing meat from Iberian pigs destined for the production of specific meat products, the cutting must be done before the meat is cooled when the results of the Trichinella test are not yet available.

In all cases, the operator must ensure full traceability of the products, and the meat must never leave the cutting room until after the results are available.

- AESAN