Article 3U.K.Isolates of Salmonella spp. obtained by food business operators

Where, due to a low bacterial prevalence or a low number of epidemiological units in a Member State the minimum number of Salmonella spp. isolates collected by the competent authority during official controls in accordance with point 1(a) of Part A of the Annex is not sufficient to achieve the minimal required number of isolates to be tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, the competent authority may use isolates obtained by food business operators provided that such isolates have been obtained by the food businesses operator in accordance with the following provisions:

(a)

the national control programme provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003;

(b)

the process hygiene criteria set out in points 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 of Chapter 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.