The development of a tool for slaughterhouses to measure how well pathogens are controlled in the pork production chain

A web based assessment tool has been developed for slaughterhouses to assess how well pathogens are controlled in their process. The scoring available in the assessment is linked to the quality and weight of scientific evidence supporting the use of certain practices and their measurable effect on pathogen levels and is awarded in response to objective evidence on their implementation. The scientific evidence supporting the scoring is accessible from the tool to encourage the development of improved practices. The UK results for an EU survey of salmonella levels on pork carcasses carried out in 2006/7 (EFSA 2008) is being used as baseline value against which the effect of using the tool and improving scores can be measured