CFA/BRC Guidance on the Implementation of the EU Microbiological Criteria for Foodstuffs Regulation

The EU Microbiological Criteria for Foodstuffs Regulation (MCFR) was published on 15 November 2025, came into effect on 5 December 2025, and applied from 1 January 2006. It relates to a package of 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.

Please refer to the consolidated legislation, which incorporates corrections and amendments.

Implementation Guidancewas drawn up by CFA supported by a number of trade organisations and Government agencies, and which covers:

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)
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

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

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 Micro Criteria Guidance – note this is up to date with respect to L. monocytogenes but other changes have been made to EU law

See also:

• Listeria biology, control and revision of criterion 1.2b and enforcement (Christeyns webinar 3 Sept 2025)
• CFA/BRC/LFR/MLA/QIB Guidelines for Setting Shelf Life of Chilled Foods in Relation to Non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum (June 2018)
• CFA/BRC/FSA Shelf life Of Ready To Eat Food In Relation to L. monocytogenes – Guidance For Food Business Operators
• CFA’s presentation ‘Microbiological Criteria – Don’t Panic‘
• FSA Guidance
• Principles of an Environmental Monitoring Program for the Management of Listeria monocytogenes (10 July 2023)

Updated 3/9/25