26.5.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 138/45 COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 517/2011 of 25 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a Union target for the reduction of the prevalence of certain Salmonella serotypes in laying hens of Gallus gallus and amending Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 200/2010 (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 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of Salmonella and other specified food- borne zoonotic agents ('), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 4(1), and Article 13(1), thereof, Whereas: (1) The purpose of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 is to ensure that measures are taken to detect and control Salmonella and other zoonotic agents at all relevant stages of production, processing and distribution, particularly at the level of primary production, in order to reduce their prevalence and the risk they pose to public health. (2)  Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 provides for Union targets to be established for the reduction of the prevalence of the zoonoses and zoonotic agents listed in Annex [ thereto in the animal populations listed therein. It also lays down certain requirements for those targets. Such reduction is important in view of the strict measures which have to be applied to infected flocks in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003. In particular, eggs originating from flocks with unknown Salmonella status, that are suspected of being infected or from infected flocks, may be used for human consumption only if treated in a manner that guarantees the elimination of Salmonella serotypes with public health significance in accordance with Union legis- lation on food hygiene. (3)  Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 refers to all Salmonella serotypes with public health significance in laying flocks of Gallus gallus. Those laying flocks may (") OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 1. spread Salmonella infection via their eggs to the consumer. Therefore, a reduction in the prevalence of Salmonella in laying flocks contributes to the control of that zoonotic agent in eggs, which is an important public health risk. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1168/2006 of 31 July 2006 implementing Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 as regards a Community target for the reduction of the prevalence of certain Salmonella serotypes in laying hens of Gallus gallus and amending Regulation (EC) No 1003/2005 (?) provides for a Union target for the reduction of the prevalence of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in adult laying hens of Gallus gallus. The Union target for each Member State is an annual minimum percentage of reduction of positive flocks of adult laying hens by 10 to 40 % depending on the prevalence in the preceding year. Alternatively, a reduction of the maximum percentage to 2 % or less. Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 provides that experience gained under existing national measures and information forwarded to the Commission or to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA’) under existing Union requirements, in particular in the framework of information provided for in Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC  and  repealing  Council  Directive 92/117[EEC (%), and in particular Article 5 thereof, is to be taken into account when setting the Union target. The Community Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Food-borne Outbreaks in the European Union in 2008 (%) showed that Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium are the serovars most frequently associated with human illness. Human cases caused by S. Enteritidis decreased markedly in 2008, while an increase in S. Typhimurium cases was observed. In accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003, the EFSA has been consulted on the setting of a permanent Union target for laying flocks of Gallus gallus. () O] L 211, 1.8.2006, p. 4. () OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 31. (*) The EFSA Journal 2010; 8(1):1496.