Zero-tolerance Listeria in EU: preparing for the stricter controls

Branko Velebit; Lazar Milojević; Vesna Janković; Brankica Lakićević; Radmila Mitrović; Dunja Mišić; Tatjana Baltić

doi:10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.73

Branko Velebit Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7577-8074
Lazar Milojević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6901-6033
Vesna Janković Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0095-1498
Brankica Lakićević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0175-5830
Radmila Mitrović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2912-2784
Dunja Mišić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2213-2612
Tatjana Baltić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0496-3133

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.73

Keywords: Listeria monocytogenes, environmental monitoring, food safety, challenge test

Abstract

From July 1, 2026, significant amendments to Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 will come into effect, tightening microbiological criteria for food safety, particularly concerning Listeria monocytogenes. The revision, introduced through Regulation (EU) 2024/2895, responds to both a rise in listeriosis incidence across Europe between 2019 and 2023 and an identified legal loophole that allowed uneven enforcement among Member States. The updated framework extends responsibility across the entire food supply chain, holding all food business operators-from producers to retailers-accountable for compliance. Ready-to-eat foods must either demonstrate absence of L. monocytogenes in a 25 g sample or provide scientific evidence that levels of this pathogen remain below 100 CFU/g throughout the product’s shelf life.

The rising burden of listeriosis, with EU-confirmed cases and fatalities increasing steadily, underscores the urgency of these measures. Vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, remain at greatest risk, while the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in fish, fishery, and meat products highlights the need for strengthened controls. Key regulatory changes include stricter environmental monitoring, comprehensive shelf-life and challenge testing, and expanded obligations covering storage, distribution, and retail. Compliance will require enhanced HACCP programs, increased testing capacity, staff training, and systematic documentation, with substantial financial and operational implications for the food industry.

Adaptation strategies center on predictive microbiology and challenge testing, guided by ISO 20976-1:2019 and the EURL Lm Technical Guidance Document, ensuring reproducibility and scientific robustness. Ultimately, these reforms aim to reduce consumer exposure and improve food safety outcomes, albeit with anticipated costs, product reformulations, and market adjustments.