EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 293/15/COL of 14 July 2015 to approve the national programme established by Iceland for the control of salmonella in poultry and poultry products [2016/1421]

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 8b of Part 7.1 of Chapter I of Annex I to EEA Agreement (Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents⁽¹⁾),

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 17 of Part 6.1 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement (Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin⁽²⁾),

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 53 of Part 7.2 of Chapter I of Annex I to EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 200/2010 of 10 March 2010 implementing Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a Union target for the reduction of the prevalence of Salmonella serotypes in adult breeding flocks of Gallus gallus⁽³⁾),

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 55 of Part 7.2 of Chapter I of Annex I to EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 517/2011 of 25 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a Union target for the reduction of the prevalence of certain Salmonella serotypes in laying hens of Gallus gallus and amending Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 200/2010⁽⁴⁾),

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 57 of Part 7.2 of Chapter I of Annex I to EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 200/2012 of 8 March 2012 concerning a Union target for the reduction of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium in flocks of broilers, as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council⁽⁵⁾),

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 51 of Part 7.2 of Chapter I of Annex I to EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 1190/2012 of 12 December 2012 concerning a Union target for the reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in flocks of turkeys, as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council⁽⁶⁾), as adapted to the EEA Agreement by point 4(d) of Protocol 1 to the EEA Agreement and Articles 1(2) and 3 of Protocol 1 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement,

Having regard to Decision No 494/13/COL of the EFTA Surveillance Authority (‘the Authority’) of 11 December 2013 empowering the College Member with special responsibility for veterinary and phytosanitary matters to take certain decisions and measures (Document No 683826), in particular point 1 thereof,

Whereas:

1. The purpose of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 is to ensure that proper and effective measures are taken to detect and control salmonella and other zoonotic agents at all relevant stages of production, processing and distribution, particularly at the level of primary production, in order to reduce their prevalence and the risk they pose to public health.

2. An EEA target was established for the reduction of the prevalence of all Salmonella serotypes with public health significance in breeding flocks of Gallus gallus at the level of primary production by Regulation (EU) No 200/2010.

3. An EEA target was established for the reduction of the prevalence of certain Salmonella serotypes in laying hens of Gallus gallus by Regulation (EU) No 517/2011.

4. An EEA target was established for the reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in flocks of broilers by Regulation (EU) No 200/2012.

5. An EEA target was established for the reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in flocks of turkeys by Regulation (EU) No 1190/2012.

6. In order to achieve the EEA targets Member States are to establish national programmes for the control of salmonella in the relevant populations and submit them to the Authority in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003.

7. Iceland has submitted its national programme for the control of salmonella in poultry and poultry products. The control programme aims at reducing the prevalence of all Salmonella serovars below 1 % for all flocks of poultry, i.e. in breeding flocks of Gallus gallus; laying hens of Gallus gallus; flocks of broilers; and flocks of turkeys.

8. The Authority considered that the programme presented by Iceland should be approved as it complied with the relevant EEA veterinary legislation, and in particular with Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003. For good measure, the Authority notes that Iceland has not provided the information necessary to assess whether the control programme is equivalent to that approved for Finland and Sweden as provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

9. The Authority, therefore, by its Decision No 209/15/COL, referred the matter to the EFTA Veterinary and Phytosanitary Committee. The Committee approved unanimously the proposed Decision to approve the national control programme established by Iceland for the control of salmonella in poultry and poultry products. Accordingly, the draft measures are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: