Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the use of lactic acid to reduce microbiological surface contamination on bovine carcases

Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 lays down specific rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin for food business operators. It provides that food business operators are not to use any substance other than water to remove surface contamination from products of animal origin, unless the use of the substance has been approved in accordance with that Regulation. It provides that the use of approved substances is not to affect the obligations of food business operators to comply with the requirements of that Regulation.

On 14 December 2010, the Commission received an application for approval of the use of lactic acid to reduce surface contamination of bovine carcases and meat. On 26 July 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted a favourable opinion on the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of lactic acid for decontamination purposes. The Commission therefore proposed measures concerning the use of lactic acid to reduce surface contamination on bovine carcases.

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)578: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:578:FIN

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