EU Legislation
Following the large outbreak in France and Germany of Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli in May 2011, consumption of sprouts was identified as the most likely origin of the outbreaks.
Following this, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted a Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli and other pathogenic bacteria in seeds and sprouted seeds. EFSA concluded that the contamination of dry seeds with bacterial pathogens is the most likely initial source of the sprout-associated outbreaks and that due to the high humidity and the favourable temperature during sprouting, bacterial pathogens present on dry seeds can multiply during sprouting and result in a public health risk.
To mitigate the identified risks, it was considered necessary to introduce additional requirements for sprouting seeds. This resulted in a suite of measures in the form of four new Commission Regulations to cover the import, traceability, microbiological criteria and approval of establishments producing sprouts:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 208/2013 (OJ L 68, p16, 12/03/2013) of 11 March 2013 on traceability requirements for sprouts and seeds intended for the production of sprouts.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 209/2013 (OJ L 69, p19, 12/03/2013) of 11 March 2013 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 as regards microbiological criteria for sprouts and the sampling rules for poultry carcases and fresh poultry meat.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 210/2013 (OJ L 68, p28, 12/03/2013) of 11 March 2013 on the approval of establishments producing sprouts pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 2020/2235 (OJ L 442, p1, 30/12/2020) of 16 December 2020 establishes standard models for the entry into the Union of sprouts for human consumption and seeds intended for the production of sprouts for human consumption.
Imports from Third Countries
Additional rules apply to sprouts and seeds for sprouting imported into the EU:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 as amended
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292, as amended supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption, amended by
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2652 amending and correcting Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of honey, meat, highly refined products, gelatine capsules, fishery products and requirements for private attestation and amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/630 as regards private attestation requirements for composite products exempted from official controls at border control posts
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 208/2013 European Communities (General Food Law) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 [S.I. No. 383 of 2013] – to give further effect to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 208/2013
European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 [S.I. No. 22 of 2020] – to give further effect to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 208/2013, and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/628