A brief overview of food hygiene legislation.

Following several animal disease outbreaks and food contaminant scandals in Europe in recent years, the European Commission adopted the White Paper on Food Safety in 2000. This White Paper contains a number of recommendations aimed to increase food safety, improve the traceability of food products and regain consumer confidence in the food industry. To this effect a package of new European legislation on food and feed has been prepared with the following characteristics: responsibility of food safety lies with the food business operator, while the competent authority of the Member State verifies correct implementation of the new rules. Production should be based on good hygienic practice and HACCP principles and products are subject to microbiological criteria and temperature limits. The legislation deals with all food and covers the entire food chain ("from stable to table"). The general framework of the new food hygiene legislation is explained. The General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002) is discussed in more detail as well as the Regulations concerning food hygiene. The characteristics and requirements of each one of the three Hygiene Regulations is presented (Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 854/2004) with a particular emphasis on the changes in the new (horizontal) legislation as compared to the old (vertical) Directives. Implementing measures of the Hygiene Regulations have been published in the form of four Commission Regulations in December 2005. The implementing measures deal with technical issues often in great detail and became applicable at the same time as the Hygiene Regulations with effect of 1 January 2006. The major issues as laid down in the four Commission Regulations are presented. Finally, various guidance documents are mentioned. These documents are available on the Internet site (http//ec.europa. eu/food/food/biosafety/hygienelegislation/guide_en.htm) of DG SANCO and explain in plain language some of the topics of the Hygiene Regulations.

Growth factor-like action of lysophosphatidic acid on human B lymphoblasts.

Proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion of B lymphocytes are regulated by specific antigens and numerous accessory immunomodulatory factors. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a glycerophospholipid mediator that is released from activated blood platelets, attains high levels in serum, and exerts potent stimulatory effects on, e.g., neutrophils, monocytes, and T lymphocytes. LPA is also generated by a secretory, cytokine-inducible phospholipase A2 present in high concentrations in inflammatory exudates and septic states. We investigated effects of LPA on human Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B lymphoblasts, a model for immunoglobulin-secreting B cells. Intracellular Ca2+ was determined with fura 2 and the formation of inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate by anion-exchange chromatography. LPA stimulated an increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate levels and induced a transient rise in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration from 105 +/- 17 to 226 +/- 21 nM. This Ca2+ signal resulted from Ca2+ mobilization and Ca2+ influx and was subject to homologous desensitization. Pertussis toxin inhibited these responses by approximately 70%. Furthermore, LPA stimulated a 27.5% increase in guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) binding to permeabilized B lymphoblasts, which suggests the direct activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins by LPA. LPA stimulated a strong increase in the specific phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (immunoblot analysis) that was prevented by the MEK inhibitor PD-98059. Finally, LPA triggered a 2-fold increase in DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation) and a 2-fold increase in B lymphoblast number and evoked a 20- to 50-fold increase in immunoglobulin formation. By RT-PCR we detected specific mRNA transcripts for the recently cloned human LPA receptor. Thus our data suggest that LPA behaves as a B cell growth factor.

Animal health and the trade in aquatic animals within and to the European Union.

The creation of a single European market has significantly extended the scope of veterinary animal and public health legislation. This extension includes aquatic animals, and a comprehensive set of directives and decisions has been developed to ensure free circulation of aquaculture animals and their products, while guaranteeing a high level of animal health. At the same time, and in the same context, other directives have been adopted which organise checks on animals and products within and to the European Union (EU), as well as accompanying financial measures. Animal health legislation for the movement of aquaculture animals is also based on a number of principles, including the following: --the definition of important pathogens and their hosts --zoning (regionalisation)--the obligation for EU Member States to move animals only from areas or farms with high health status to and between areas and farms with equal or lower health status--the prescription of a testing regime to improve animal health status in zones or farms. In addition, disease control prescriptions have been established or are being considered for adoption. These include the establishment of national and EU reference laboratories, as well as the application of contingency plans and the measures to be taken in the event of a disease outbreak.