Article 1 Objective of the survey and general provisions

A survey shall be carried out to assess the prevalence of Salmonella spp. across the Community in slaughter pigs sampled in the slaughter house. The survey shall also be used to collect at the same time information on contamination of carcases in slaughterhouses and on the relation between bacteriological and serological tests.

The results of the survey shall be used to set Community targets as provided for in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 and to consider the best approach to evaluate in the future the achievement of the target.

The survey shall cover a one-year period commencing on 1 October 2006.

For the purposes of this Decision, ‘competent authority’ shall be the authority or authorities of a Member State as designated under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003.