Biological risks such as bacteria, viruses or prions are present in food, in particular, in products of animal origin. Salmonella in poultry, Listeria monocytogenes in dairy and meat products, biotoxins in live molluscs, Trichinella in horses, wild pigs and domestic swine and BSE from cattle in particular, all pose serious risks to public health. Following the food crisis of the nineties, the Commission took new measures to increase the level of food safety and restore consumer confidence. These measures, based on recognised scientific opinions, include the following:

• A co-ordinated and holistic approach towards food hygiene, covering all levels of the food chain, applying a transparent policy to all food operators and food.
• An assessment of the safety and quality of all types of foodstuffs by setting out microbiological criteria, applicable at the site of food production as well as products on the market.
• Increased knowledge of sources and trends of pathogens by monitoring zoonotic agents throughout the food and animal feed chain. The implementation of control programmes for Salmonella and other food-borne zoonotic diseases to reduce the public health risk and to provide the basis for adopting measures to manage these risks.
• The effective control of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE, scrapie, etc.). The development of measures aimed at avoiding contagion of other animals or exposure of the consumers. Harmonisation of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) measures in Member States and the TSE import rules applicable to third countries.
• The ban on the transformation of certain animal by-products into feed or technical products and the determination of alternative safe methods for the use or disposal of animal waste.