Regulations, food safety
Reminder: CTCPA is here to help you navigate the regulatory changes coming into effect on July 1, 2026, regarding Listeria monocytogenes criteria in PAMs.
05
Mar
Published on: 03/05/2026
As a reminder, a regulatory change will come into effect on July 1, 2026, concerning the Listeria monocytogenes criterion in ready-to-eat foods (PAM*). CTCPA supports you with predictive microbiology and challenge tests.
What's new :
The CTCPA helps you:
Thanks to the predictive microbiology** We assess whether growth is possible or not, and to what extent, before launching a challenge test so as not to spend unnecessarily.
Grace challenge tests*** (controlled seeding of Listeria) we demonstrate experimentally whether or not the matrix allows the growth of Listeria, and how it evolves up to the use-by date. In addition, our food technology experts can advise you on the formulation or processing of your products to improve their compliance. The CTCPA is a laboratory and a technical center.
For more information, contact us at: microbiologie.contact@ctcpa.org
*Productsaffected: Ready-to-eat foods (RTEs) that support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (excluding infant formula and foods for special medical purposes). Specifically, products in categories 1.2:
– Smoked fish
– Cold cuts
– Certain unpasteurized dairy products/raw milk cheeses
– Certain prepared salads (containing seafood, for example)
**The CTCPA is a member of the Sym’Previus scientific interest group (GIS).
*** Laboratory recognized by the DGAL (French Directorate General for Food) for performing growth tests (challenge tests) with Listeria monocytogenes (NS dated November 28, 2013).
Unit recognized by the DGAL (French Directorate General for Food) to validate food microbiological shelf life dossiers (IT dated December 24, 2019).
Regulatory references:
(1)Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005establishes the microbiological criteria applicable to foodstuffs, including specific requirements for ready-to-eat foods.
2)Regulation (EU) 2024/2895, published in 2024, amends these provisions to strengthen the assessment of L. monocytogenes growth and risk control throughout the shelf life, with implementation effective July 1, 2026.
3) TheTechnical Instruction DGAL/SDSSA/2023-27 specifies, for foodstuffs of animal origin or containing animal-derived ingredients, the requirements for ready-to-eat products (RTEs), including the RTE/non-RTE classification and the methods for assessing the growth potential of L. monocytogenes.
What's new :
- Previous regulation: Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 (1)
- New regulation: Regulation (EU) 2024/2895(2)
For products in which Listeria monocytogenes can grow, the manufacturer must nowdemonstrate, to the satisfaction of the competent authority, that the limit of 100 CFU/g is respected until the end of the shelf life (best before date). If this proof is not provided, the product must meet the strict criterion of not being detected in 25 g throughout the product's shelf life.
The CTCPA helps you:
Thanks to the predictive microbiology** We assess whether growth is possible or not, and to what extent, before launching a challenge test so as not to spend unnecessarily.
Grace challenge tests*** (controlled seeding of Listeria) we demonstrate experimentally whether or not the matrix allows the growth of Listeria, and how it evolves up to the use-by date. In addition, our food technology experts can advise you on the formulation or processing of your products to improve their compliance. The CTCPA is a laboratory and a technical center.
For more information, contact us at: microbiologie.contact@ctcpa.org
*Productsaffected: Ready-to-eat foods (RTEs) that support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (excluding infant formula and foods for special medical purposes). Specifically, products in categories 1.2:
– Smoked fish
– Cold cuts
– Certain unpasteurized dairy products/raw milk cheeses
– Certain prepared salads (containing seafood, for example)
**The CTCPA is a member of the Sym’Previus scientific interest group (GIS).
*** Laboratory recognized by the DGAL (French Directorate General for Food) for performing growth tests (challenge tests) with Listeria monocytogenes (NS dated November 28, 2013).
Unit recognized by the DGAL (French Directorate General for Food) to validate food microbiological shelf life dossiers (IT dated December 24, 2019).
Regulatory references:
The framework governing microbiological criteria forListeria monocytogenesis based on three key documents:
(1)Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005establishes the microbiological criteria applicable to foodstuffs, including specific requirements for ready-to-eat foods.
2)Regulation (EU) 2024/2895, published in 2024, amends these provisions to strengthen the assessment of L. monocytogenes growth and risk control throughout the shelf life, with implementation effective July 1, 2026.
3) TheTechnical Instruction DGAL/SDSSA/2023-27 specifies, for foodstuffs of animal origin or containing animal-derived ingredients, the requirements for ready-to-eat products (RTEs), including the RTE/non-RTE classification and the methods for assessing the growth potential of L. monocytogenes.
