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On February 3, the European Commission published Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/179, which establishes guidelines for the collection and transmission of molecular analytical data in epidemiological investigations of foodborne disease outbreaks, in accordance with Directive 2003/99/EC.
The purpose of the regulation is to facilitate the investigation of foodborne disease outbreaks through the collection and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of isolates from the following pathogens: Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and Campylobacter coli. For this, Member States must collect isolates of the mentioned bacteria from food, animals, feed, and the related environment during foodborne disease outbreaks, perform whole genome sequencing of these strains in accredited official laboratories, and transmit the sequencing results to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Whole genome sequencing of a bacterium is a highly precise identification method that allows for the comparison of bacteria isolated from sick individuals with those isolated from food, determining whether the food is the source of the illness.
Member States and the EFSA have eighteen months from the regulation’s entry into force to comply with the new requirements.
February 4, 2025/ AESAN/ Spain.
https://www.aesan.gob.es/
