Essential Requirements for Foodborne Pathogen Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Analysis and Data Submission in the EU: A Comprehensive Guide

The European Commission recently released information about new EU legislation focusing on whole genome sequencing (WGS) for foodborne pathogens. This regulation, known as Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/179, aims to help quickly identify sources of foodborne illness outbreaks.

Under this regulation, important pathogens like Salmonella enterica, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli must be analyzed when linked to illness cases. If one of these pathogens is suspected in an outbreak, at least one isolate from food, animals, or the environment must be analyzed and reported to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The defined term "suspected to be associated with a foodborne illness outbreak" means that at least two human cases must share an epidemiological link to a food source containing the same pathogen.

In cases of multinational outbreaks, each EU country’s respective authority must complete the WGS analysis for relevant isolates. While the regulation doesn’t require food businesses to perform WGS themselves, they must provide isolates to authorities if asked.

Along with the WGS sequences, food businesses must submit other details like reference numbers, pathogen species, sampling dates, and descriptions of the food or environment involved. WGS results should be sent to EFSA as soon as they’re ready. It’s important that laboratories doing these analyses meet ISO 17025 accreditation standards to ensure reliability.

Interestingly, while WGS is not obligatory for routine sample testing, EU member states are encouraged to share any WGS results they gather, even if those isolates are not linked directly to outbreaks.

This regulation takes effect on August 23, 2026. To contextualize its significance, consider that recent data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control indicates that foodborne diseases remain a critical public health issue, affecting millions annually. The move toward mandatory WGS aligns with growing global trends for transparency and rapid response in food safety.

As technology and science evolve, measures like these may dramatically improve our ability to track and control foodborne illnesses, leading to safer food systems across Europe and beyond. You can learn more about the legislative details here.

Source link

whole genome sequencing,EFSA,EU,Europe,European Commission,outbreak investigations