Risk based meat inspection in 1905, but not in 2005? Truls Nesbakken Professor Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Dept. of Food Safety and Infection Biology

A litte about…. The history of meat inspection The new EU regulation Zoonotic agents - possibility for intervention in the meat chain The Nordic project Some future possibilities in relation to research

Gro Harlem Brundtland former director- general in WHO We need to accept that the systems we use in Europe to ensure food safety are not as good as we have come to believe. To improve these systems and re-establish consumer confidence, we must reassess them all the way from the farm to the table

The meat inspection in 2005 Why should you go to the doctor if he only examined you for diseases that occurred 100 years ago? In a tabloid context, meat inspection might be described in the same way. The meat inspection of today has a focus on a disease panorama that was relevant long time ago Accordingly, the important zoonoses of today are not detected and the consumer has not an optimal defence against these diseases

The background for the classic meat inspection – The German Scientific Breakthrough ( ) Pathology, Parasittology Trichinella Tapeworms Echinococcus Microbiology Tuberculosis Robert Koch Louis Pasteur

Risk based meat inspection in 1905 ( Robert von Ostertag) Inspection Palpation Incision Lymph nodes Muscles Organs Specific investigation Trichinella

Bovine tuberculosis - history in Norway, still a problem in UK

Salivary glandLymph node The compulsory procedure of incisions of the submaxillary lymph nodes (EU commission) This lymph node contains Yersinia bacteria in about 15% of all slaughter pigs in Norway

Slaughter hygiene (pigs): Contamination of carcasses with Salmonella due to meat inspection procedures (The Netherlands) 5-35 % of contamination due to meat inspection and the procedures after this position

Possibility for intervention / reduction of zoonotic agents in the meat chain

CODEX:Young Oceania against old Europe A basic disagreement about who and how meat inspetion shold be performed and the degree of official inspection and control Australia Austria/Germany - Industrial quality - Official employees systembased on HACCP - Audits - Inspection - Dynamic - Static

The new EU regulation – Hygiene 3 A risk based meat inspection based on scientific evidence Meat inspection based on the zoonotic panorama in the region The official veterinarian has a central role Food chain information

EU – post - mortem inspeksjon Visual post mortem inspection (pm) of pigs from integrated production systems Other animal species might be assessed in relation to future visual pm Possibility for dispensation for trichinella tests of pigs from integrated production systems under particular circumstances

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do! John Wooden

Some scientific aspects in relation to protection of the consumer against zoonoses….

Categorisation as a system for control with zoonotic agents Animals carrying zoonotic agents might be picked out by Serological or bacteriological testing of flocks at herd level Serological testing in the abattoir Historical data based on such tests

One example of categorisation in the Nordic countries The Danish salmonella program based on serology of slaughter pigs: The level of salmonella in fresh meat has dropped from 2.3 % in 1996 to 1.4% in 2004, Prevalence of salmonellose in humans caused by pig related salmonella has dropped from about 20 per people in 1993 to 3.8 in 2003.

Modern meat inspection in a Nordic context ( )

The Nordic countries Represents more than 20 mill. people: Sweden Denmark Norway Finland Iceland Mainly small farms, but also big farm units (in particular pig production in Denmark) No animal markets and animal auctions

Project organisation Funded by the Council of Nordic Ministers In the steering group, each of the Nordic countries is represented by one person from the authorities one person from the organisation of the slaughterhouses The steering group has pointed out two abattoirs in each of the Nordic countries to carry out projects by the meat inspection units in co-operation with the slaughter houses

Steering group meeting in Oslo Ron Dwinger from the EU Commission paid us a visit

Vision A risk-based* meat inspection based on a sustainable Nordic primary production with healthy animals providing safe meat to healthy consumers (visionary meat inspection) * containing any performance objective, performance criterion or process criterion developed according to risk analysis principles.

Vision (cont.) Such a vision may result into a risk-based meat inspection based on: Risk management of animals according to important zoonotic agents audits delegation of rational and reasonable tasks to the industry with the goal that food safety aspects and consumers confidence are not compromised cost effectiveness

The overall objective To investigate and test solutions to achieve an efficient and risk based meat inspection in the Nordic countries

The specific objectives At Nordic level, evaluate practical and relevant ways of Risk assessment of important Nordic zoonoses Food chain information Staffing of meat inspection

The specific objectives (cont.) To propose new and relevant training programs for both veterinarians and technicians working in meat inspection to achieve relevant qualifications according to the new regulations, Argue for a change in the legislation towards a visionary meat inspection system, and more based on employees from the industry and audits from the authorities

The specific objectives (cont.) Argue for a change of the legislation towards a real risk-based meat inspection also comprising cattle, sheep and lambs (and not only pigs), Communicate results from the project to the authorities in the Nordic countries, the Nordic meat industry and the EU Commission during the whole project period.

Examples of specific projects running Risk assessment on specific zoonotic agents in a Nordic context Food chain information Theoretical Practical Relevant number of veterinarians and technical personnel in meat inspection units Professional qualifications

Examples of specific projects running…(cont.) Ante mortem inspection at herd level? (Norway) Improvement of the quality of slaughter pigs (Finland) Categorisation of herds based on historical data…Toxoplasma in lamb as an example (Norway/Iceland)

…and we hope to use this one…: When a Member State adopts national measures implementing a pilot project to try out new approaches to hygiene controls on meat in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 7, the Member State shall communicate the results to the Commission as soon as they are available. The Commission shall then consider proposing general measures in with paragraph 1.

The European and global aspects EU EFSA 6th og 7th Framework programs… Codex – WHO – WTO Veterinary Public Health

The future meat inspection system From farm to table Flexible and dynamic Protects the consumer Based on risk assessment A meaningful work Based on cost-benefit

Questions about the project? ….please, send an to the co-ordinator: