Biological hazards such as bacteria, viruses or prions are present in food products and, in particular, in products of animal origin. Salmonella in poultry, Listeria monocytogenes in dairy products and meat, biotoxins in live molluscs, Trichinella in horses, wild boars and domestic pigs and BSE in cattle pose serious risks to public health. After the food crisis in the nineties, the Commission took further steps to increase the level of food safety and restore consumer confidence. Among these measures, based on accepted scientific opinion, we can mention the following:

• A comprehensive and coordinated approach with regard to food hygiene, covering all levels of the food chain and a transparent policy applied to all food and food operators.
• An assessment of the safety and quality of all types of food products by setting microbiological criteria that apply either to food production processes or to final products.
• Improved knowledge of the sources and tendencies of pathogens by monitoring zoonotic agents throughout the food chain and animal feed chain. The introduction of programmes to control salmonella and other zoonotic diseases transmitted through food in order to reduce public health risks and lay the foundations to adopt the measures to deal with the said risks.
• Effective control of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (BSE, scrapie,...). The development of measures to prevent the infection of other animals or the contamination of consumers. The standardisation of measures related to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in Member States and of regulations governing imports from third countries with respect to TSE.
• A ban on processing certain animal sub-products to produce animal feed or technical products and the establishing of safe alternative methods for the use or disposal of animal waste.