{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2013-210/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2013-210/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2013/210",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 210/2013 of 11 March 2013 on the approval of establishments producing sprouts pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2013-210",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 210/2013\nof 11 March 2013\non the approval of establishments producing sprouts pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, and in particular Article 6(3)(c) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nRegulation (EC) No 852/2004 lays down general rules for food business operators on the hygiene of foodstuffs, inter alia, for primary production and associated operations. That Regulation provides that food business operators are to ensure that establishments are approved by the competent authority, following at least one on-site visit when approval is required under national legislation, under Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council or under a decision adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.\n(2)\nFollowing the outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in May 2011 in the Union, consumption of sprouts was identified as the most likely origin of the outbreaks.\n(3)\nOn 20 October 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (‘EFSA’) adopted a Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and other pathogenic bacteria in seeds and sprouted seeds. In its Opinion, EFSA concludes that the contamination of dry seeds with bacterial pathogens is the most likely initial source of the sprout-associated outbreaks. In addition, the Opinion states that, due to the high humidity and the favourable temperature during sprouting, bacterial pathogens present on dry seeds can multiply during sprouting and result in a public health risk.\n(4)\nIn order to ensure the protection of public health in the Union and in view of that EFSA Opinion, Commission Regulation (EU) No 209/2013 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, Commission Regulation (EU) No 211/2013 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 208/2013 were adopted.\n(5)\nIn addition to the measures laid down in those acts, establishments producing sprouts should be subject to approval in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 852/2004. Such approvals, granted following at least one on-site visit, would ensure that such establishments comply with the relevant hygiene rules, thereby ensuring a high level of protection of public health. The approval of such establishments should be conditional upon their compliance with a number of requirements in order to ensure that the possibility of contamination within the facility where sprouts are produced is reduced.\n(6)\nThe measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "EFSA Journal 2011;9(11):2424."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "See page 19 of this Official Journal."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f5",
      "text": "OJ L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 1."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f6",
      "text": "See page 26 of this Official Journal."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f7",
      "text": "See page 16 of this Official Journal."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2013/210/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:48:48.572370+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}