New Reporting Obligations Planned Under the Zoonoses Regulation
Jun 17, 2020 - Foods
New Reporting Obligations Planned Under the Zoonoses Regulation
According to the Zoonoses Regulation, there has been a reporting requirement for food business operators for many years if zoonotic pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, STEC…. are detected in food testing (www.bav-institut.de).
In the draft of a Fourth Ordinance amending regulations for the implementation of community hygiene legislation, the Zoonoses Regulation should be supplemented by the following points in particular:
- Reports to the authorities should be made "immediately upon notification"
- The reporting obligation should, in addition to food, be evaluated for
- Product residues from food or smear water in cheese production during the manufacture and processing of ready-to-eat foods for Listeria monocytogenes,
- Environmental investigations of, for example, work surfaces, pipeline systems, or transport containers that may come into contact with ready-to-eat foods and that may promote the growth of Listeria monocytogenes.
Furthermore, a new offense is being included in § 4 of the Zoonoses Regulation, according to which a failure to report, incorrect reporting, or failure to report in time to the competent authorities will, in the future, be subject to a fine of up to €50,000.
Even if most investigations of environmental investigations of Listeria monocytogenes do NOT take place at product-contact surfaces (e.g., investigations of drains, refrigeration units...), the reporting obligations according to the Zoonoses Regulation will gain further relevance through these new regulations.
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