The last in the current series of Better Training for Safer Food workshops on control and eradication of salmonella in pigs and poultry takes place in Berlin on 13-17 September. Around 40 participants are expected to attend thus bringing the total number of people trained under the programme this year to around 260. Participants are mainly EU Member State officials responsible for monitoring and control of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, as well as some from third countries.

The aim of the training is to develop best practices for monitoring and control in these areas, in particular with a view to eradicating salmonella in poultry and pigs. This should facilitate intra-community trade in live animals, hatching eggs and products such as eggs and poultry meat.

The training is to be provided by an expert group of tutors from different EU Member States and third countries. It consists of theoretical presentations, panel discussion and case studies. Subjects covered include various aspects of salmonella monitoring and control, risk management and assessment, the human health burden from the disease and zoonotic trends in the EU.

Five workshops have been held on salmonella during 2010 as part of a wider programme which has also included workshops on microbiological criteria and investigation of food-borne disease outbreaks. Of these, four were held in 2009 and one in early 2010. For each section of the programme, four workshops took place in Berlin and one in Lyon.

Training related to zoonoses has been organised within Better Training for Safer Food since 2007 and will continue to form part of the training offer during 2011-12. Four four-day events are scheduled to take place on salmonella in pigs and poultry and a further four on microbiological criteria and investigation of food-borne outbreaks over the next two years. These workshops are expected to provide training for approximately 280 people.