The European Commission has amended Commission Regulation (EU) 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria for foods to expand the requirements for food business operators regarding Listeria monocytogenes.

The original regulation stipulates that L. monocytogenes is not to be detected in 25 grams (g) of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods able to support the growth of the pathogen (other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes) before they have left the immediate control of the food manufacturing facility, in cases where the producer is unable to demonstrate that the level of L. monocytogenes will not exceed the limit of 100 colony forming units (cfu)/g throughout the shelf life of the foods concerned. However, Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 does not provide a requirement that applies to those foods once they have left the immediate control of the producing food business operator. The amendment to the regulation expands the requirement for food manufacturers to other food business operators.