8.3.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 69/85 COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 216/2014 of 7 March 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 2075/2005 laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption ('), and in particular points 6, 8, 10 and 12 of Article 18 thereof, Whereas: 1 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2075/2005 of 5 December 2005 laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat (%) lays down rules for the sampling of carcases of species susceptible to Trichinella infection, for the determination of the status holdings and regions and conditions for import of meat into the Union. It also provides for reference methods and equivalent methods of detection of Trichinella in samples of carcases. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted on 3 October 2011 a Scientific Opinion on the public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat (swine) (). In that opinion EFSA identified Trichinella as a medium risk for public health related to the consumption of pig meat and concludes that with respect to inspection methods for biological hazards, a pork carcass safety assurance, with a range of preventive measures and controls applied both on-farm and at slaughterhouse in an integrated way is the only way to ensure an effective control of the main hazards. EFSA identified certain epidemiological indicators in relation to Trichinella. Depending on the purpose and the epidemiological situation of the country the indi- cators may be applied at national, regional, slaught- erhouse or holding level. EFSA recognises the sporadic presence of Trichinella in the Union, mainly in free-ranging and backyard pigs. EFSA also identified that the type of production system is the single main risk factor for Trichinella infections. In addition, available data demonstrate that the risk of Trichinella infection in pigs from officially recognised controlled housing conditions is negligible. () OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 206. () O] L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 60. (’) EFSA Journal 2011; 9(10):2351[198 pp.], published 3 October 2011. () ) ) O] O] A negligible risk status for a country or region is no longer recognised in an international context by the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE). Instead, such recognition is linked to compartments of one or more holdings applying specific controlled housing conditions. For reasons of consistency with international standards, and in order to enhance a control system in accordance with the actual public health risks, the Trichinella risk mitigation measures, including import conditions, at slaughterhouses and the conditions for determination of the Trichinella infection status of countries, regions or holdings should be adapted, rationalised and simplified. Belgium and Denmark notified in 2011 a Trichinella negligible risk for their territory in accordance with Regu- lation (EC) No 2075/2005. Such negligible risk status for a country or region is however no longer recognised. Nevertheless, holdings and compartments in Belgium and Denmark which comply with the conditions for controlled housing at the date of entry into force of this Regulation should be allowed to apply the dero- gation for such holdings and compartments without additional prerequisites such as further requirements of post-official recognition by the competent authority. The EU Reference Laboratory for parasites has recom- mended clarifying the text of the Regulation in relation to the procedure of certain equivalent methods for Trichinella testing. It should be provided that the operators must ensure that dead animals are collected, identified and transported without undue delay in accordance with Articles 21 and 22 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by- products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation) (*) and with Annex VIII to Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 of 25 February 2011 implementing Regu- lation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and implementing Council Directive 97/78/EC as regards certain samples and items exempt from veterinary checks at the border under that Directive (°). L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 1. L 54, 26.2.2011, p. 1.