Final Report of an Audit Conducted in the People's Republic of China to Evaluate Poultry Meat Inspection System and Establishments Producing Stuffed Grain Products
7 Microbiological Controls

7.1 Microbial Intervention

In the two poultry slaughter establishments audited, only chlorine is used in the water as a microbiological intervention system. During the off-line reprocessing, the contaminated carcasses and parts are rinsed with water with no addition of microbial intervention agents. In the poultry slaughter establishment audited, a level of 50 to 100 ppm of chlorine is added to the water in the chiller, during the chilling process. CIQ officials perform task to verify the chlorine level in the chiller tank once per hour. Only microbial control interventions approved by Health Canada can be used to treat raw carcasses and their parts in establishments registered under the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990.

7.2 Slaughter Establishments (Product and Environmental Sampling)

In the slaughter establishments audited, the sampling plan is based on the exporting countries' requirements. The testing of generic E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter on carcasses was completed using the same sampling frequency, sampling techniques and process verification criteria as used in Canada. The frequency for generic E. coli is one per 22,000 carcasses and for Salmonella and Campylobacter, the frequency is 51 consecutive tests. The results of the product sampling program audited reflected the conditions and the controls on the evisceration floor.

All product and environmental samplings are conducted by the trained personnel of the establishment under CIQ inspector's supervision. CIQ does not take separate samples. All samples go to the ISO 17025 accredited laboratory within the establishment.

7.3 Processing Establishments (Product and Environmental Sampling)

The Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (Order of President N^o. 21 adopted at the 12th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress) requests that food and drug supervision administrations of the People's Republic of China should conduct the sampling and release results as specified. AQSIQ is responsible for the general planning of annual export-oriented microbiological sampling plan. AQSIQ provides the CIQs their attributed number of samples to be taken annually. The CIQ organizes and assigns the sampling plan to the establishments. The microbiological sampling plan for the domestic market is organised by and is under the responsibility of the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA).

In the processing establishments audited, CIQ performs an export related finished product sampling program. One sample of a product per month is taken and will happen concurrently on the same production line, and on the same day of production. From the selected lot, the CIQ designated official will randomly collect a sample consisting of five sample units. These samples are sent to the Official Technical Center laboratory for analysis. The microbiological analysis includes total bacteria count, Salmonella, E. coli. Staphylococcus and Listeria monocytogenes.

The results of these tests are sent back via the information technology tool called E-lab (electronic laboratory) directly to the CIQ designated official. If the results are non-compliant and there is a food safety issue, the operator is informed and a recall must be initiated. A risk analysis is done and the frequency of the test is increased to once a week for a period of several weeks based on the operator's risk analysis. The designated CIQ official and the supervisor have the support of CIQ's provincial level for the overview of the situation. The CIQ provincial office provides technical resources for the analysis of the non-compliance.

The establishments are conducting domestic product microbiological sampling for every lot. However, establishments do not hold the finished products while waiting for the microbiological test results.

For the audited dumpling establishments, control panels are considered as possible direct contact surfaces and were sampled for microorganisms. Both product and environment samples are analyzed individually by the laboratory instead of composing all samples together.