We are pleased to inform you that the revision of EURL Lm Guidance document on the competence of laboratories implementing shelf-life studies (Version 3 – 10 February 2023) has been adopted by EC Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee) at its meeting of 10 February 2023. This version is available on the DG SANTE website: link. You will be able to find also this link at the end of EURL Lm homepage: “Guidance documents”. This is the end of a revision cycle: started with the publication in 2019 of the first CEN ISO standard on shelf-life studies: EN ISO 20976-1 "Microbiology of the food chain - Requirements and guidelines for conducting challenge tests of food and feed products - Part 1: Challenge tests to study growth potential, lag time and maximum growth rate". EURL Lm had contributed to the development of the Standard through the WG19 "Guidelines for conducting challenge tests" of the ISO/TC 34/SC 9. Continued by the revision of the EURL Lm Technical Guidance Document Lm shelf-life studies endorsed by the member states on 01/07/2021: link. Many thanks once more to the representatives of 6 NRLs Lm which have collaborated with Hélène BERGIS and Ludivine BONANNO to draft this document.

The Centre is celebrating the production of two videos. The first is a presentation video of EURCAW Poultry-SFA which can be found on the website pages "Home" and "About Us" or directly here. The second one is on the assessment of the state of consciousness after waterbath stunning in broiler chickens which can be found on the website page "Stunning" or directly here.

[relayed from EUCAST]  EUCAST will during 2023, based on the work of theEMERGE AST Working Group, strive to publish clinical breakpoints and disk diffusion correlates for Brucella melitensis and Bacillus anthracis. Through the joint effort of the group and EUCAST, MIC and zone diameter distributions are now available. ECOFFs are under development and will be available soonest. For more  information:  Tscherne, A.; Mantel, E.; Boskani, T.; Budniak, S.; Elschner, M.; Fasanella, A.; Feruglio, S.L.; Galante, D.; Giske, C.G.; Grunow, R.; et al. Adaptation of Brucella melitensis Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing to the ISO 20776 Standard and Validation of the Method. Microorganisms 2022, 10, 1470. https://doi.org/10.3390/ microorganisms10071470 MIC EUCAST  

[relayed from abstract] This paper reports 2 cases of brucellosis in male patients who were hospitalized in distinct towns of French Guiana, an overseas territory of France located on the northeastern shore of South America. Both men were citizens of Brazil working as clandestine goldminers in the deep Amazonian rainforest. Characterization of the 2 bacterial isolates revealed that they represent a potential new species of Brucella: Brucella amazionensis. For more information:  About, F., Pastre, T., Boutrou, M., Martinez, A., Melzani, A., Peugny, S....Keriel, A. (2023). Novel Species of Brucella Causing Human Brucellosis, French Guiana. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29(2), 333-340. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2902.220725.

In order to start this new cycle of seminars in the WG HRMET (ANSES working group on HRMS and metabolomics), I would like to invite you to listen Jon Wong and Jian Wang on the use and value of HRMS to improve health surveillance. The seminar will be in English. - Jon is a researcher at the US FDA (food and drug administration) and a specialist in mass spectrometry and analysis of contaminants and pesticide residues in food https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jon-Wong-4 Jon Wong is a Research Chemist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition located in College Park, Maryland, USA.  He was a Chemist at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms from 1997-2002 and has been at FDA since 2002.  His work has focused on the development and validation of multiresidue pesticide methods using gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.  In the last ten years, he and Dr. Jian Wang from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, have collaborated and developed high resolution mass spectrometry workflows to analyze and screen for pesticides, mycotoxins, and veterinary drugs in food and other agricultural matrices.   Dr. Wong has BS degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Davis, a MS degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, and a PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from UC Davis.  He is a Board member of the AOAC Official Methods Board Committee and the North America Chemical Residue Workshop, an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, and an Editorial Advisory Board member of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.  - Jian Wang is a researcher at the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) also specializing in mass spectrometry and analysis of contaminants and pesticide residues in food https://profils-profiles.science.gc.ca/fr/profil/dr-jian-wang-phd?wbdisable=true Dr. Jian Wang received his PhD from University of Alberta. He has been working as a Research Scientist at the Calgary Laboratory, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, since 2002. He is in charge of Research and Development Unit in Calgary Laboratory, CFIA. His scientific expertise resides on research and method development using UHPLC/ESI-MS/MS, UHPLC/ESI QqTOF and UHPLC/ESI Q-Orbitrap for analysis of chemical contaminant residues including antibiotics, pesticides, etc. in food. He, along with Dr Jon Wong, FDA, and many other colleagues, is keen to promote Non-target Data Acquisition for Target Analysis (nDATA) using high resolution mass spectrometry for enhanced monitoring program of a large number of chemical contaminants and for flexible testing scope to increase sample throughput. Dr Wang also carries on research on food authenticity based on HRMS and metabolomics. Dr Wang is a member of Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR). Vidéo Seminar

The Centre is celebrating the publication of its fourth scientific paper as a result of the work carried out in Activity 3 in 2021. In this study, we examined the validity of six methods for dust assessment in layer barns. The methods were either developed for the purpose or as a refinement of existing methods. Of the six methods examined, the dust sheet test with a test duration of 2–3 h was found to be the most promising method. This article named "Validation of methods for assessment of dust levels in layer barns" is available here.

The Centre is celebrating the publication of its third scientific paper as a result of the work carried out in Activity 3 in 2021 and 2022. The technical study aimed at evaluating the prevalence and the inter-observer repeatability of the most valid and feasible animal-based indicators (ABIs) of the state of consciousness after waterbath stunning (WBS) in turkeys before bleeding (tonic seizure, breathing, spontaneous blinking, and vocalization) and during bleeding (wing flapping, breathing, spontaneous swallowing, and head shaking). This article named "Relevant Indicators of Consciousness after Waterbath Stunning in Turkeys and Stunning Efficiency in Commercial Conditions" is available here. 

Update on April 17th 2023 On March 1st 2023, protection zones around Saint-Pierre and Saint-Joseph were removed. A surveillance zone of 10 km around outbreaks in Saint-Philippe was set up with the same measures than previously in place in protection zones (Figure 1). Identification and traceability of colony movements were set up for the entire territory. Surveillance continues and the objective remains at the moment eradication of SHB. On April 3rd 2023, a new case was found in Saint-Philippe in the surveillance zone. SHB adults were detected in colonies. Since the first detection on July 5th 2022, 14 SHB cases have been confirmed. Figure 1 Map of SHB cases and new surveillance zone for monitoring of SHB presence (01/03/2023) See more information (in French): On the new measures in place since March 1st 2023 (Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forest – DAAF of La Reunion) On the last case found in Saint-Philippe (francetvinfo.fr) Situation on February 14th 2023 On 5th july 2022, one case of infestation by A. tumida was detected in an apiary located in the municipality of Saint-Pierre in the French island of La Reunion[1]. The case was confirmed the next day by the French NRL. Adults of SHB were detected in three colonies out of the 17 in the apiary. Until then this territory, situated in the Indian Ocean, was free of this coleopteran. The SHB had been detected in Mauritius in 2016 [2] and is present in Madagascar since 2013[3]. All colonies from this apiary were euthanised and burnt. Soil was treated with insecticides. A 10 km radius zone was set up surrounding the case: a protection zone of 5 km radius surrounded by a surveillance zone of 5 km radius. Measures were set up in these zones: identification and inspection of apiaries, set up of traps in honey bee colonies, restrictions of movements of bees and bee products. On 7th July 2022, a new case was detected in an apiary located in the municipality of Saint-Philippe, 30 km East from Saint-Pierre. This case was epidemiologically linked to the first outbreak. Nine other cases were detected in the protection zone surrounded this second case in the following weeks. Another case was detected on 19th July in the municipality of Saint- Joseph located between Saint-Pierre and Saint-Philippe (see Figure 1). The same sanitary measures were applied to all these cases, with the aim of eradicating. On 21st July 2022, a total of 12 cases were detected in La Reunion island (all located in the south of the island). Figure 1 Map of inspections and SHB cases in the different zones for monitoring of SHB presence (28/09/2022)   Mostly SHB adult specimens were detected. In only two cases, SHB larvae were found, indicating that the beetle had already undertaken in at least one reproductive cycle in the territory. Inspections are still ongoing in all apiaries located in the surveillance and protection zones and in selected apiaries in the rest of the island. During the next following six months no new case were detected. On 3rd February 2023, two adults of SHB were identified in an apiary in the protection zone of Saint-Philippe, during a re-inspection. This brings the number of cases to a total of 13 since the first detection in July 2022. Surveillance continues and the objective remains at the moment eradication of SHB. Epidemiological investigations and phylogenetic analysis of the origin of introduction are still underway. The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/110 of 12 January 2023 added La Reunion island to the list of zones subject to emergency measures as regards confirmed cases of infestation with SHB and repealed Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/597. [1] La Reunion island is a French department located in Indian Ocean ~700 km East from Madagascar and ~177 km West from Mauritius. [2] Muli, E., et al. (2018). "Small hive beetle infestations in Apis mellifera unicolor colonies in Mauritius island, Mauritius." Bee World 95(2): 44-45 [3] Rasolofoarivao, H., et al. (2013). "Spread and strain determination of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in Madagascar since its first report in 2010." Exp Appl Acarol 60(4): 521-530.    

A report of several FMD outbreaks in Iraq has been mentioned recently. Interestingly, the virus strain circulating in Iraq is related to SAT-2, topotype XIV, and closely related to SAT-2 strains ETH/3/22 and ETH/2/22 (collected from cattle in Sodo, Wolaita, SNNPR in March 2022). Moreover, the virus is currently circulating in Jordan, and has been found closely related/identical to the mentioned Iraqi virus.  For more information: https://promedmail.org/promed-post/?id=20230204.8708168 ; https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4856        

At the end of January, EURL staff was informed by the NRL in Cyprus about moth specimens identified as S. frugiperda after real-time PCR molecular analysis. These specimens had been trapped at Pissouri Village by an amateur entomologist and quickly delivered to the NRL. Two adult specimens were sent to ANSES and AGES for morphological and molecular confirmations that did not left any doubt: this priority quarantine pest crossed the Union borders. Spodoptera frugiperda worldwide spread has been strikingly rapid and relentless. Native to tropical-subtropical areas of the Americas, this moth is a migratory species capable of flying north up to southern Canada every summer. It cannot therefore be excluded that the moth flew to the island of Cyprus from the surrounding countries of the Mediterranean basin where it is present. According to EFSA, Cyprus is one of the European countries where the pest could find suitable climatic conditions for its establishment, as well as southern regions of Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta and Greece. Enhanced monitoring will be necessary in Cyprus to determine the actual establishment and extent of distribution In other EU countries excepted the northernmost ones. Detailed information on the risk analysis, potential spread and economic impact for EU can be found on EFSA website. Maximum vigilance is required by the NRLs' network Identification guidance is available in the training sessions part We may fulfill reference material requests