Commission Regulation (EU) No 200/2012Show full title

2.2. Sampling protocol U.K.

2.2.1. General instructions for sampling U.K.

The competent authority or the food business operator shall ensure that samples are taken by persons trained for that purpose.

At least two pairs of boot swabs shall be taken for sampling. Boot swabs are put on the boots and the sample is taken by walking around in the poultry house. Swabs from one flock of broilers may be pooled into one sample.

Before putting on the boot swabs, their surface shall be moistened by:

(a)

the application of maximum recovery diluents (MRD: 0,8 % sodium chloride, 0,1 % peptone in sterile deionised water);

(b)

the application of sterile water;

(c)

the application of any other diluents approved by the F1 ... reference laboratory referred to in Article 11 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003; or

(d)

being autoclaved in a container together with diluents.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in Annex point 2.2.1(c) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Zoonotic Disease Eradication and Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/740), regs. 1, 9(5)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

The way to moisten boot swabs shall be to pour the liquid inside before putting them on or to shake them in a container of diluent.

It shall be ensured that all sections in a house are represented in the sampling in a proportionate way. Each pair of boot swabs must cover about 50 % of the area of the house.

On completion of sampling, the swabs shall be carefully removed from the boots so as not to dislodge adherent material. Boot swabs may be inverted to retain material. They shall be placed in a bag or pot and labelled.

The competent authority may decide to increase the minimum number of samples in order to ensure representative sampling on a case-by-case evaluation of epidemiological parameters, such as biosecurity conditions, the distribution or size of the flock.

If the competent authority approves one pair of boot swabs may be replaced by a dust sample of 100g collected from multiple places throughout the house from surfaces with visible presence of dust. As an alternative, one or several moistened fabric swab(s) of a combined surface of at least 900 cm² may be used to gather dust from multiple surfaces throughout the house. Each swab shall be well coated with dust on both sides.

2.2.2. Specific instructions for certain types of holdings U.K.

(a)

For free range flocks of broilers, samples shall only be collected inside the house.

(b)

Where access to the houses is not possible due to limited space in flocks with less than 100 broilers, and it is therefore not possible to use boot swabs when walking around, they may be replaced by the same kind of hand fabric swabs that are used for dust, where the swabs are rubbed over surfaces contaminated with fresh faeces, or if this is not feasible, by other sampling techniques for faeces fit for the intended purpose.

2.2.3. Sampling by the competent authority U.K.

The competent authority shall satisfy itself by conducting further tests and/or documentary checks as appropriate to verify that results are not altered through the presence of antimicrobials or other substances inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Where the presence of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium is not detected but antimicrobials or bacterial growth inhibitory effect are detected, the flock shall be considered to be an infected flock of broilers for the purpose of the F2 ... target referred to in Article 1(2).

Textual Amendments

F2 Word in Annex point 2.2.3 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Zoonotic Disease Eradication and Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/740), regs. 1, 9(5)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

2.2.4. Transport U.K.

Samples shall be sent without undue delay either by via express mail or courier, to the laboratories referred to in Articles 11 and 12 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003. During transport they shall be protected from heat over 25°C and exposure to sunlight.

Where it is not possible to send the samples within 24 hours from the time of sampling they shall be stored refrigerated.