Public health: control of salmonella and food-born zoonotic agents

2001/0177(COD)
The Council held an orientation debate on the zoonoses dossier on the basis of the Presidency's questionnaire. It instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to pursue its work on the dossier in the light of this debate, with a view to enabling the Council to reach political agreement on the proposals later in the year. The Commission presented these proposals - a directive on monitoring zoonoses and a regulation on the control of salmonella and zoonotic agents - in October 2001 with a view to revising the current regulations in order to improve the control and monitoring of these diseases transmissible from animals to man. The Danish Presidency submitted a questionnaire, which was broadly supported by several delegations, with a view to solving the outstanding issues. On the financial aspect, a cost/benefit analysis provided by the Commission when proposing specific targets to control zoonoses and a report on financial issues are envisaged. On the scope of control measures, the setting of clear criteria in the regulation to define salmonella serotypes of public health significance is suggested. The Presidency also suggests a revised timetable for the establishment of Community targets and the introduction of testing depending on animal species and stages in the food chain.�