Current EU Legislation is based on the following key measures:

• Implementation of a "farm to fork " approach
• Introduction of a "Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points" (HACCP) system for all food business operators to identify any step in their activities which is critical to ensuring food safety and ensure that adequate safety procedures are identified, implemented, maintained and reviewed
• Registration or approval for certain food establishments
• Development of guides to good practice for hygiene (GHPs) and for the application of HACCP principles by food business operators
• Set-up of a special provision to ensure flexibility for food produced in remote areas (high mountains, remote islands) and for traditional foodstuffs and production methods.

The new hygiene legislation was adopted in April 2004 by the European Parliament and the Council. It came in to force on 1 January 2006.

Regulation (EC) 852/2004
Hygiene of foodstuffs

Regulation (EC) 853/2004
Hygiene rules for food of animal origin

Regulation (EC) 854/2004
Specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption

Regulation (EC) 178/2002
General principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety

Directive 2004/41/EC
Repealing certain Directives concerning food hygiene and health conditions for the production and placing on the market of certain products of animal origin intended for human consumption and amending Council Directives 89/662/EEC and 92/118/EEC and Council Decision 95/408/EC

Regulation (EC) 882/2004
Official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules

Regulation (EC) 2073/2005
Microbiological criteria for foodstuffs

Regulation (EC) 2074/2005
Implementing measures

Regulation (EC) 2075/2005
Specific rules for trichinella in meat

Regulation (EC) 2076/2005
Lays down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulations (EC) No 853/2004,
(EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and
amending Regulations (EC) No 853/2004 and (EC) No 854/2004

Regulation (EC) 1774/2002
Lays down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption

Directive 2002/99/EC
Animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption

Guidelines

General Food Law - Implementation Guidelines