THE INTENSIFIED CONTROL PROGRAM FOR SALMONELLA IN DANISH PORK

Abstract The intensified control program for Salmonella at Danish slaughterhouses was imple-mented in May 2002 in order to identify slaughterhouses that have an increased prevalence of Salmonella in pork over a period of time. These slaughterhouses must intensify their efforts to reduce the Salmonella prevalence. The surveillance is based upon carcass swab samples. The results of the samples are evaluated for each slaughterhouse every month, and the evaluation is based upon results from the latest 12 months. Slaughterhouses with a Salmonella prevalence of 2.2 % or more on individual carcasses are noted, and if a slaughterhouse is noted 4 times during a 6 months period, it is obliged to start an intensified Salmonella control program. The intensified program has so far lead to a reduction of the Salmonella prevalence in pork from 1.7 % to 1.4%. Introduction In Denmark an ongoing surveillance of Salmonella in pork has been implemented since 1993. The surveillance has been optimised and extended in order to further reduce the Salmonella prevalence in pork. In 2001 the Danish pork industry made an agreement with the Danish authorities, that by the end of 2006 the Salmonella prevalence in pork must be reduced with 27 % compared to the prevalence in 2001. By the 1st of May 2002 an intensified control pro