Report of Hygiene Implementation Working Group (11 November 2009)

• Concerns were raised by a minority of Member States over the proposal to adopt the Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) method as the reference method for lipophilic algal toxins. Commission will be presenting the proposal for a technical vote at the SCoFCAH meeting on 17 November.
• Commission pressed Member States for views on a proposal on farmed and wild game meat. The main issues of interest were the time between ante mortem inspection and slaughter, and the training required for those carrying out slaughter.
• Initial thoughts on controls for composite products presented by the Commission with majority of Member States appearing to support a stepped, risk-based approach.
• Majority of Member States supported proposal for further controls on cold stores and traceability, with only a small minority of Member States (including the UK) indicating current legislation was sufficient. This proposal is now subject to internal Commission discussion.
• Commission presented initial thoughts on modernisation of meat inspections, and requested Member State views/input.

Updated Reflection Paper

Farmed/Wild Game Meat
Commission presented a proposal for controls on farmed and wild game meat. The main areas of discussion were the proposals on the period between ante-mortem inspection and slaughter and the training needed for persons carrying out slaughter/bleeding. Commission considered majority of Member States supported inspection up to three days prior to slaughter and pressed Member States to provide information on farmed game production systems and national controls.

Composite Products
Commission presented a paper on possible approaches for taking forward discussions on harmonised rules for composite products. Initial discussions indicate the majority of Member States appear to support a stepped, risk-based approach. Commission requested further written comments from Member States.

Questionnaire on Coldstores and Traceability

The Commission outlined the background to the proposal and presented a paper summarising Member State views (see link below) on the potential impact on the Competent Authority and food business operators (FBOs). It considered the proposal covering traceability should be well received, as there were no major administrative burdens and clear advantages to both Competent Authorities and FBOs. For the proposal on frozen products, the position was less clear as while there were benefits, administrative burdens were anticipated, and this was a concern within the Commission. There was strong support from many Member States for the proposals, particularly for further controls on traceability, with only a very small minority (including the UK) considering current legislation was sufficient.

Reflection on Modernisation of Meat Inspections

The Commission outlined its initial thoughts on the approach for modernising meat inspections as three main themes:

• Platform for discussion – a meeting, or series of meetings, in March 2010 covering Member States and all stakeholders.
• EFSA mandate – there is a need to establish the scope of the mandate and there are a number of issues that could be included.
• International involvement.

Internal Commission discussions are continuing, and a paper outlining current thinking may be produced within the next few weeks. There was no substantial discussion and the Commission requested Member States views on all three issues.

Proposal on Marine Biotoxins Testing Methods

The Commission presented a revised proposal which identifies the LC-MS method as the reference method for lipophilic toxins and provision for MS to gradually replace the mouse bioassay (MBA). A few MS (including the UK) noted potential technical difficulties in implementing the new method and some would support an extended period before the MBA must be replaced. The Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) has a key role ensuring a properly validated method is available. The proposal is expected to be accepted by a technical vote at the next SCoFCAH meeting but if the CRL is not able to develop the method then the proposal will not be presented for adoption as planned in June 2010.

The Commission presented an initial draft paper outlining a proposal to provide an option to apply an alternative microbiological criteria with a three class sampling plan for bivalve molluscs but acknowledged this required further work before it would be discussed with Member States.

January 2010