CFA/BRC Guidance on the Implementation of the EC Microbiological Criteria Regulation
The EU Microbiological Criteria Regulation (MCR) came into force in January 2006 and relates to a package of new EU hygiene regulations that came into effect at that time, and to the General Food Law
Regulation 178/2002, which came into effect on 1 January 2005.
Guidance has been drawn up by CFA, which is supported by a number of trade organisations and Government agencies, and which includes:
Part A Overview of the Requirements of the Regulations including:
- The Purpose Of Microbiological Criteria
- The Purpose of Microbiological Testing
- The Legal Context
- Requirements For Food Businesses
- Recommendations For Food Businesses
- Sampling Plans and Frequencies
Part B Interpretation of Annex I of the Regulations (The Microbiological Criteria)
o Food Safety Criteria
- Ready-to-eat foods
- Minced meat and meat preparations
- Meat and products thereof
- Milk and dairy products
- Infant Formula and dried dietary foods for infants for special medical purposes
- Egg Products
- Fishery Products and Shellfish
- Produce
o Process Hygiene Criteria
- Meat and products thereof
- Milk and dairy products
- Infant formula and dried dietary foods for infants for special medical purposes
- Egg Products
- Fishery Products and Shellfish
- Produce
o Figures
- Decision Tree Showing Application of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) Criteria
- Sampling rules for poultry carcases
- Sampling frequencies for red meat carcases
- Sampling frequencies for poultry slaughterhouses
DOWNLOAD version 1.2 (Dec 2006) AS PDF(1.3Mb)
See also CFA's presentation 'Microbiological Criteria Regulations - Don't Panic!'
