The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Marit PAULSEN (ELDR, Sweden) on salmonella and other zoonotic agents. (Please refer to the document dated 17/04/02.) Members made it clear that whilst the purpose of the Regulation is to control salmonella to reduce prevalence, the overriding objective in the long term is to prevent zoonotic agents from entering the human and animal food chain by detecting and controlling them at the earliest stage possible. Regions which have achieved a high level of proteciton by means of apporved control programmes should be allowed, during a transitional perid, to impose corresponding requirements in respect ofp roducts imported into their territory. Equivalent measures for the control of zoonoses must also be implemented in third countries exporting to the Community at the same time as measures are applied in the Community. Member States on whose territory an inspection is carried out are under a positive duty to provide all necessary assistance to the experts to enable them to carry out their tasks.
Finally, the latest date for laboratories to apply quality assurance systems conforming to the current EN/ISO Standard had been brought forward one year to 2004.�