V.MFS.0439 - CMA: Risk-based meat inspection and integrated meat safety - COST

Summary

Australia, through MLA, is participating in the European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST) project, Risk-based meat inspection and integrated meat safety assurance (RIBMINS). Being part of this project allows Australian scientists, government and industry, through MLA, to discuss, and contribute, to thinking of European scientists about the future of meat inspection and safety. MLA will form working groups within Australia to input into the RIBMINS working groups. MLA will need to fund participation in meetings in Europe, but there will be some contribution from the COST project.

The European Food Safety Authority has recently proposed a generic framework for a modern, flexible and dynamic risk-based meat safety assurance system. Implementation of such a system is expected to be a slow and careful process that would involve its thorough development, fine-tuning and testing its practical feasibility and general impacts. There are many research groups in Europe that currently perform studies, mostly at national level, to fill the knowledge gaps related to such a new system.

Objectives

The main aim of the proposed network is to combine and strengthen European-wide research efforts on modern meat safety control systems. The network will allow exchange of ideas, experience and results of country-level research studies. Furthermore, the aim is to create a platform for training of relevant participants in the new meat safety system and thus help its operability, as well as to inform relevant stakeholders about the requirements, benefits and consequences of the new system. The RIBMINS network will consist of five working groups:
1. On scope and targets of meat safety assurance
2. On farm-level controls and risk categorisation of farms
3. On abattoir-level controls and risk categorisation of abattoirs
4. On meat safety assurance system impact with changes, addition and alternatives to meat inspection
5. On meat safety assurance system training, communication and monitoring.

Overall, the establishment of the proposed network shall help the full development and implementation of the general principles of meat safety assurance systems across Europe for the benefit of consumers, industry and protection of animal health and welfare.

Future research