# Commission Decision of 5 November 2010 concerning a financial contribution from the Union towards a coordinated monitoring programme on the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in certain ready-to-eat foods to be carried out in the Member States (notified under document C(2010) 7516) (2010/678/EU), Division 1.1: General rules

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

On receipt of the samples, laboratories shall check the information recorded by the sampler on the sampling form and complete the relevant sections of that form. All samples received shall be examined to ensure that the packaging used for transportation is intact before storing. Samples received at a temperature higher than 8 °C shall be rejected unless the temperature at retail was higher than 8 °C.
Without prejudice to point 1.2, all samples are kept refrigerated until the end of their shelf-life.
In cases where samples must be stored until the end of their shelf-life, they shall be refrigerated:
(a) at the storage temperature indicated on the label of the packaging. If the label indicates a temperature interval, the sample must be stored at the upper limit of the temperature interval;
(b) if there is no specific storage temperature indicated on the label of the packaging, the sample must be kept at:
(i) the maximum refrigeration temperatures defined by the legislation or guidance in force in the Member State where the sample is collected, with a tolerance of ± 2 °C;
(ii) 8 °C (± 2 °C) where no such legislation or guidance exists.
If the shelf-life of the product sampled ends during a weekend or a national holiday, the sample must be analysed on the last working day before the end of the shelf-life.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2010/678/annex/I/part/C/division/1/division/1.1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2010-678/annex-I/part-C/division-1/division-1.1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.