Practical arrangements for official controls for Salmonella
Article 35
1. The competent authorities shall verify the correct implementation by food business operators of points 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 of Chapter 2 of Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 by applying one or more of the following measures: (a) official sampling using the same method and sampling area as food business operators. At least 49 random samples ( 40 ) shall be taken in each slaughterhouse each year. This number of samples may be reduced in small slaughterhouses based on a risk evaluation; (b) collecting all information on the total number and the number of Salmonella -positive samples taken by food business operators in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005, in the framework of points 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 of Chapter 2 of Annex I thereto; (c) collecting all information on the total number and the number of Salmonella -positive samples taken in the framework of national control programmes in Member States or regions of Member States for which special guarantees have been approved in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 as regards ruminant, equine, swine and poultry production. 2. Where the food business operator fails on several occasions to comply with the process hygiene criterion, the competent authorities shall require it to submit an action plan and shall strictly supervise its outcome. 3. The total number and the number of Salmonella -positive samples, differentiating between samples taken under points (a), (b) and (c) in paragraph 1, when applied, shall be reported in accordance with Article 9(1) of Directive 2003/99/EC.