This Regulation establishes new requirements for collecting and analyzing molecular data during food-borne outbreak investigations in the EU. It introduces mandatory Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for specific food-borne pathogens and creates a system for sharing this data between Member States through the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).The Regulation consists of three main articles that outline: (1) the collection and WGS requirements for pathogen isolates, (2) the transmission of WGS results to EFSA, and (3) the implementation timeline. The act introduces new obligations compared to previous legislation by making WGS mandatory for specific pathogens and establishing detailed data sharing requirements.Key provisions include:
- Mandatory collection and WGS analysis of five specific pathogens (Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli) when associated with food-borne outbreaks
- Requirement for food and feed business operators to submit pathogen isolates and WGS results to competent authorities upon request
- Detailed requirements for data transmission to EFSA, including specific associated data such as unique reference numbers, sampling information, and outbreak details
- Implementation timeline with the regulation becoming applicable from August 23, 2026, allowing 18 months for adaptation to new requirements
