Evaluating the food safety systems governing the production of pork and poultry meat and meat products for export to Canada
8. Microbiological controls
The CFIA auditors reviewed the microbiological controls, including the control over the implementation of relevant process hygiene and food safety criteria according to Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005.
According to Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005, FBOs are required to ensure that foodstuffs comply with the relevant microbiological criteria. To this end the FBOs at each stage of food production, processing and distribution, including retail, must take measures, as part of their procedures based on HACCP principles together with the implementation of good hygiene practices, to ensure the following:
- that the supply, handling and processing of raw materials and foodstuffs under their control are carried out in such a way that the process hygiene criteria are met
- that the food safety criteria applicable throughout the shelf-life of the products can be met under reasonably foreseeable conditions of distribution, storage and use
This EU Regulation is equivalent as it relates to the process hygiene criteria for fresh meat. However, compliance with Canadian microbiological food safety criteria is still required.
The audit process highlighted the following differences in Canadian versus the EU requirements.
- As per EU regulations, the official sampling to detect Listeria monocytogenes in RTE meat and poultry products is performed at retail whereas according to CFIA policy such products must be tested at federally registered establishments
- The EU will need to develop and implement a control program, including product and environment testing that meets Canadian requirements
- The requirements for processing and incubation testing of canned products are prescriptive in Canada whereas the EU requirements lack clarity and detail
- The concerned MS' (Poland and Croatia) were applying the Canadian standards in the audited canning establishments as required. Other EU establishments eligible to export products to Canada will also need to meet Canadian requirements.
- In one MS (Poland) the auditors noted that bruised meat products are allowed to be incorporated in meat products
- These are normally lower quality products with a shorter shelf life and are not permitted to be used as food in Canada.
- It was also noted that Canadian requirements for cooling of heat processed meat products are prescriptive whereas the EU does not prescribe such requirements.
The EU must demonstrate to the CFIA how it will ensure that meat and poultry products are produced under control programs that meet all Canadian food safety and product standards.
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