Published: 8 April 2026
The EU Library gathers guidance documents related to food safety and produced by EU national competent organisations and risk assessors.
The EU Library includes entries collected by members of EFSA’s Advisory Forum with the support of the national Focal Points. It will be updated at least annually to ensure the inclusion of any new guidance and updates of existing ones.
Showing 10 documents
Original title:Valutazione del benessere animale e della biosicurezza dell'allevamento della bovina da latte: manuale di autocontrollo-ClassyFarm
Food Domain: Animal Health; Animal Welfare; Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:"ClassyFarm is an IT platform of the Italian Ministry of Health, developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ""Bruno Ubertini"" (IZSLER), with the aim to categorise livestock farms based on their risk in animal welfare, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use. Within this platform, several data are inserted: in relation to Animal Welfare and Biosecurity in dairy cows, a guidance and two checklists (for both loose-housed and tie-stalls housing systems) have been developed for on-farm risk assessment to be run by a farm veterinarian (private practitioner). To guarantee a uniform collection of management-based, resource-based, and animal-based indicators, this guidance has been developed.
The indicators are based on current European and Italian animal welfare legislation and international scientific references, such as the Welfare Quality protocol (2009) and several EFSA Opinions and Guidelines. For each indicator (question), three possible answers have been identified according to three levels of risk:
- Level 1 - High risk: unacceptable or non-compliant condition; some animals may be in stressful situations and exposed to hazards.
- Level 2 - Controlled Risk: compliant condition, where animals benefit at least from the five animal welfare freedoms.
- Level 3 - Low risk: optimal condition, above minimum law requirements, which allows animals to have rewarding positive experiences.
Once the farm veterinarian submits aswers to the Classyfarm Platfor, the system provides scores for non-animal-based and animal-based indicators, breaking them down into three assessment areas (on a 0-100% scale scoring system):
- Area A: Farm management and staff training
- Area B: Facilities and equipment
- Area C: Animal-based measures
- along with a final total score for overall Animal Welfare (0-100%).
For more info: https://www.classyfarm.it/index.php/en/what-en"
Original title:Valutazione della biosicurezza negli allevamenti di suini semibradi ad alta capacità-Manuale per i Controlli Ufficiali- Classyfarm
Food Domain: Animal Health; Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:"ClassyFarm is an IT platform of the Italian Ministry of Health, developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ""Bruno Ubertini"" (IZSLER), with the aim to categorise livestock farms based on their risk in animal welfare, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use.
Within this platform, several data are inserted: in relation to Biosecurity in pig farming, a guidance and a checklist for high-capacity semi-free-range system have been developed for on-farm risk assessment to be run by the Official Veterinarian.
To guarantee a uniform collection of management-based, resource-based, and animal-based indicators, this guidance has been developed, and it is integrated into the official animal welfare checklist, which is structured in sections to verify compliance with current regulatory requirements. The data collected is further combined with information from the National Data Bank, ClassyFarm checklists from farm veterinarians, and return data from slaughterhouses, all contributing to the assessment of the farm's risk level, which can be compared at provincial, regional, and national levels.
The indicators are based on current European and Italian animal welfare legislation and international scientific references, such as the Welfare Quality protocol (2009) and several EFSA Opinions and Guidelines. For each indicator (question), three possible answers have been identified according to three levels of risk:
- Level 1 - High risk: unacceptable or non-compliant condition; some animals may be in stressful situations and exposed to hazards.
- Level 2 - Controlled Risk: compliant condition, where animals benefit at least from the five animal welfare freedoms.
- Level 3 - Low risk: optimal condition, above minimum law requirements, which allows animals to have rewarding positive experiences.
Once the Official Veterinarian submits aswers to the Classyfarm Platfor, the system provides a
document that will contain:
- the critical points found (criteria with non-compliant or insufficient evaluation),
- the overall risk level of the herd, calculated from the ratio of “non-compliant - insufficient, “compliant - acceptable” and “compliant - optimal” observations,
- the risk level for each area (Area A: Farm management and staff training; Area B: Facilities and equipment; Area C: Animal-based measures), expressed according to the observations noted (non-compliant, compliant, optimal, insufficient, improvable).
-any measures and prescriptions adopted,
-the final result of the inspection, along with the owner's or keeper's right to defense.
For more info: https://www.classyfarm.it/index.php/en/what-en""
Original title:Valutazione della biosicurezza negli allevamenti di suini stabulati a bassa capacità-Manuale per i Controlli Ufficiali- Classyfarm
Food Domain: Animal Health; Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:"ClassyFarm is an IT platform of the Italian Ministry of Health, developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ""Bruno Ubertini"" (IZSLER), with the aim to categorise livestock farms based on their risk in animal welfare, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use.
Within this platform, several data are inserted: in relation to Biosecurity in pig farming, a guidance and a checklist for low-capacity housed system have been developed for on-farm risk assessment to be run by the Official Veterinarian.
To guarantee a uniform collection of management-based, resource-based, and animal-based indicators, this guidance has been developed, and it is integrated into the official animal welfare checklist, which is structured in sections to verify compliance with current regulatory requirements. The data collected is further combined with information from the National Data Bank, ClassyFarm checklists from farm veterinarians, and return data from slaughterhouses, all contributing to the assessment of the farm's risk level, which can be compared at provincial, regional, and national levels.
The indicators are based on current European and Italian animal welfare legislation and international scientific references, such as the Welfare Quality protocol (2009) and several EFSA Opinions and Guidelines. For each indicator (question), three possible answers have been identified according to three levels of risk:
- Level 1 - High risk: unacceptable or non-compliant condition; some animals may be in stressful situations and exposed to hazards.
- Level 2 - Controlled Risk: compliant condition, where animals benefit at least from the five animal welfare freedoms.
- Level 3 - Low risk: optimal condition, above minimum law requirements, which allows animals to have rewarding positive experiences.
Once the Official Veterinarian submits aswers to the Classyfarm Platfor, the system provides a
document that will contain:
- the critical points found (criteria with non-compliant or insufficient evaluation),
- the overall risk level of the herd, calculated from the ratio of “non-compliant - insufficient, “compliant - acceptable” and “compliant - optimal” observations,
- the risk level for each area (Area A: Farm management and staff training; Area B: Facilities and equipment; Area C: Animal-based measures), expressed according to the observations noted (non-compliant, compliant, optimal, insufficient, improvable).
-any measures and prescriptions adopted,
-the final result of the inspection, along with the owner's or keeper's right to defense.
For more info: https://www.classyfarm.it/index.php/en/what-en""
Original title:Valutazione della biosicurezza negli allevamenti di suini semibradi a bassa capacità-Manuale per i Controlli Ufficiali- Classyfarm
Food Domain: Animal Health; Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:"ClassyFarm is an IT platform of the Italian Ministry of Health, developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ""Bruno Ubertini"" (IZSLER), with the aim to categorise livestock farms based on their risk in animal welfare, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use.
Within this platform, several data are inserted: in relation to Biosecurity in pig farming, a guidance and a checklist for low-capacity semi-free-range system have been developed for on-farm risk assessment to be run by the Official Veterinarian.
To guarantee a uniform collection of management-based, resource-based, and animal-based indicators, this guidance has been developed, and it is integrated into the official animal welfare checklist, which is structured in sections to verify compliance with current regulatory requirements. The data collected is further combined with information from the National Data Bank, ClassyFarm checklists from farm veterinarians, and return data from slaughterhouses, all contributing to the assessment of the farm's risk level, which can be compared at provincial, regional, and national levels.
The indicators are based on current European and Italian animal welfare legislation and international scientific references, such as the Welfare Quality protocol (2009) and several EFSA Opinions and Guidelines. For each indicator (question), three possible answers have been identified according to three levels of risk:
- Level 1 - High risk: unacceptable or non-compliant condition; some animals may be in stressful situations and exposed to hazards.
- Level 2 - Controlled Risk: compliant condition, where animals benefit at least from the five animal welfare freedoms.
- Level 3 - Low risk: optimal condition, above minimum law requirements, which allows animals to have rewarding positive experiences.
Once the Official Veterinarian submits aswers to the Classyfarm Platfor, the system provides a
document that will contain:
- the critical points found (criteria with non-compliant or insufficient evaluation),
- the overall risk level of the herd, calculated from the ratio of “non-compliant - insufficient, “compliant - acceptable” and “compliant - optimal” observations,
- the risk level for each area (Area A: Farm management and staff training; Area B: Facilities and equipment; Area C: Animal-based measures), expressed according to the observations noted (non-compliant, compliant, optimal, insufficient, improvable).
-any measures and prescriptions adopted,
-the final result of the inspection, along with the owner's or keeper's right to defense.
For more info: https://www.classyfarm.it/index.php/en/what-en"
Original title:Valutazione della biosicurezza negli allevamenti di suini stabulati ad alta capacità-Manuale per i Controlli Ufficiali- Classyfarm
Food Domain: Animal Health; Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:"ClassyFarm is an IT platform of the Italian Ministry of Health, developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ""Bruno Ubertini"" (IZSLER), with the aim to categorise livestock farms based on their risk in animal welfare, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use.
Within this platform, several data are inserted: in relation to Biosecurity in pig farming, a guidance and a checklist for high-capacity housed system have been developed for on-farm risk assessment to be run by the Official Veterinarian.
To guarantee a uniform collection of management-based, resource-based, and animal-based indicators, this guidance has been developed, and it is integrated into the official animal welfare checklist, which is structured in sections to verify compliance with current regulatory requirements. The data collected is further combined with information from the National Data Bank, ClassyFarm checklists from farm veterinarians, and return data from slaughterhouses, all contributing to the assessment of the farm's risk level, which can be compared at provincial, regional, and national levels.
The indicators are based on current European and Italian animal welfare legislation and international scientific references, such as the Welfare Quality protocol (2009) and several EFSA Opinions and Guidelines. For each indicator (question), three possible answers have been identified according to three levels of risk:
- Level 1 - High risk: unacceptable or non-compliant condition; some animals may be in stressful situations and exposed to hazards.
- Level 2 - Controlled Risk: compliant condition, where animals benefit at least from the five animal welfare freedoms.
- Level 3 - Low risk: optimal condition, above minimum law requirements, which allows animals to have rewarding positive experiences.
Once the Official Veterinarian submits aswers to the Classyfarm Platfor, the system provides a
document that will contain:
- the critical points found (criteria with non-compliant or insufficient evaluation),
- the overall risk level of the herd, calculated from the ratio of “non-compliant - insufficient, “compliant - acceptable” and “compliant - optimal” observations,
- the risk level for each area (Area A: Farm management and staff training; Area B: Facilities and equipment; Area C: Animal-based measures), expressed according to the observations noted (non-compliant, compliant, optimal, insufficient, improvable).
-any measures and prescriptions adopted,
-the final result of the inspection, along with the owner's or keeper's right to defense.
For more info: https://www.classyfarm.it/index.php/en/what-en""
Guidelines and procedure for the collection of samples from the encephalon stem surveillance of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in bovines, buffalo, sheep, goats and deer
Original title:Linea guida e procedura per il prelievo dei campioni di tronco encefalico sorveglianza delle encefalopatie spongiformi trasmissibili in bovini, bufalini, ovini, caprini e cervi
Food Domain: Animal Health; Biological Hazards - EUSR TSE
Abstract/Summary:These guidelines provide useful guidance to Local Health Authority veterinarians regarding brainstem sampling procedures, surveillance for bovine, sheep/goat and cervid TSEs, and biosecurity measures in compliance with the regulatory framework.
Original title:Linee guida per la lotta alle encefalopatie spongiformi trasmissibili (TSE) negli allevamenti ovini e caprini
Food Domain: Animal Health; Biological Hazards - EUSR TSE
Abstract/Summary:"The following Guidelines are intended to be a tool that can facilitate the application of the complex regulations governing the management of TSEs in sheep and goats. In the
specific attention has been paid to the surveillance and management of outbreaks.
It should be noted that collaboration with the breeder must always be promoted for the purpose of the prompt reporting, to the competent Local Health Authority, of all cases of animal death and possible finding of clinical symptoms and behavioral alterations referable to the disease. Failure to report the death constitutes a violation of the provisions of Art. 6 of Legislative Decree 136/2022 and therefore the sanctioning measures provided for in by Article 23, paragraph 1 of the same Legislative Decree 136/2022, as explained by the note of the Ministry of Health 0005173-23/02/2023-DGSAF-MDS-P.
Anything not expressly defined in the following guidelines shall be implemented pursuant to current national and European Union regulations."
Original title:Valutazione del benessere animale e della biosicurezza dell'allevamento della capra da latte: manuale di autocontrollo-ClassyFarm
Food Domain: Animal Health; Animal Welfare; Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:"ClassyFarm is an IT platform of the Italian Ministry of Health, developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ""Bruno Ubertini"" (IZSLER), with the aim to categorise livestock farms based on their risk in animal welfare, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use.
Within this platform, several data are inserted: in relation to Animal Welfare and Biosecurity in dairy goat, a guidance and a checklist have been developed for on-farm risk assessment to be run by a farm veterinarian (private practitioner). To guarantee a uniform collection of management-based, resource-based, and animal-based indicators, this guidance has been developed.
The indicators are based on current European and Italian animal welfare legislation and international scientific references, such as the Welfare Quality protocol (2009) and several EFSA Opinions and Guidelines. For each indicator (question), three possible answers have been identified according to three levels of risk:
- Level 1 - High risk: unacceptable or non-compliant condition; some animals may be in stressful situations and exposed to hazards.
- Level 2 - Controlled Risk: compliant condition, where animals benefit at least from the five animal welfare freedoms.
- Level 3 - Low risk: optimal condition, above minimum law requirements, which allows animals to have rewarding positive experiences.
Once the farm veterinarian submits aswers to the Classyfarm Platfor, the system provides scores for non-animal-based and animal-based indicators, breaking them down into three assessment areas (on a 0-100% scale scoring system):
- Area A: Farm management and staff training
- Area B: Facilities and equipment
- Area C: Animal-based measures
- along with a final total score for overall Animal Welfare (0-100%).
For more info: https://www.classyfarm.it/index.php/en/what-en"
Original title:Linee guida in materia di igiene delle carni di selvaggina selvatica
Food Domain: Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:The game meat sector has shown a constant increase in supply and demand in recent years. In particular, the preparation of game meat-based dishes in public catering is increasingly found even outside the traditionally dedicated areas. At the same time, there is a significant increase in the number of certain wild animal populations, particularly ungulates. Most of this game can be hunted in accordance with the sector regulations and some species are subject to specific numerical control plans, which may involve different parties, as provided for by Law 157/92 and Law 394/91. Furthermore, in some periods of the year, there is the availability of large quantities of small game meat, both furred and feathered, killed during hunting. Finally, the movements of wild game carcasses or meat carried out directly by hunters, within the EU or outside the EU, must be considered. In such a context of wide availability of game meat, killed by hunting or as part of containment plans implemented by the competent bodies, and of great demand from consumers and restaurateurs, it is necessary to share the reference guidelines for the hygienic production of game meat and for the methods of official control of the same. The special rules on the protection of warm-blooded fauna and animal health are reserved. Since wild game, like other wild animals, is an important tool for assessing the prevalence of parasites and other zoonotic agents, it is also possible to proceed with regular checks on animals classified as indicators. The results of the monitoring carried out on the fauna will be included in the annual report in accordance with Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. As is known, Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, which establishes specific rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin, in Annex III, Section IV, defines precise requirements regarding the placing on the market of wild game meat. The regulation does not apply to primary production for private domestic use as well as "to hunters who supply small quantities of wild game or wild game meat directly to the final consumer or to laboratories attached to retail or local catering establishments supplying the final consumer" (art. 1, co-signature 3, letter e of regulation (EC) 853/2004). The regulation of this last aspect, in application of the principle of subsidiarity, is delegated to the individual Member States. Italy has partially implemented this last provision through the agreement between the Ministry of Health, the Regions and the autonomous Provinces of 9/2/2006, lastly updated and modified with the agreement between the Government, the Regions and the autonomous Provinces relating to "Application guidelines of Regulation no. 852/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of food products" (Rep. Atti no. 59/CSR of 29 April 2010). These guidelines aim to harmonise the indications relating to the hygiene of the production of wild game meat, as defined in points I and 5 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) no. 853/2004, as well as the related official control activities on the national territory. These guidelines do not apply to farmed game as defined in Annex I, point 1.6 of Regulation (EC) no. 853/2004.
Original title:Valutazione del benessere animale e della biosicurezza dell'allevamento del bovino da carne: manuale di autocontrollo- ClassyFarm
Food Domain: Animal Health; Animal Welfare; Biological Hazards
Abstract/Summary:"ClassyFarm is an IT platform of the Italian Ministry of Health, developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ""Bruno Ubertini"" (IZSLER), with the aim to categorise livestock farms based on their risk in animal welfare, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use.
Within this platform, several data are inserted: in relation to Animal Welfare and Biosecurity in beef cattles, a guidance and a checklists have been developed for on-farm risk assessment to be run by a farm veterinarian (private practitioner). To guarantee a uniform collection of management-based, resource-based, and animal-based indicators, this guidance has been developed.
The indicators are based on current European and Italian animal welfare legislation and international scientific references, such as the Welfare Quality protocol (2009) and several EFSA Opinions and Guidelines. For each indicator (question), three possible answers have been identified according to three levels of risk:
- Level 1 - High risk: unacceptable or non-compliant condition; some animals may be in stressful situations and exposed to hazards.
- Level 2 - Controlled Risk: compliant condition, where animals benefit at least from the five animal welfare freedoms.
- Level 3 - Low risk: optimal condition, above minimum law requirements, which allows animals to have rewarding positive experiences.
Once the farm veterinarian submits aswers to the Classyfarm Platfor, the system provides scores for non-animal-based and animal-based indicators, breaking them down into three assessment areas (on a 0-100% scale scoring system):
- Area A: Farm management and staff training
- Area B: Facilities and equipment
- Area C: Animal-based measures
- along with a final total score for overall Animal Welfare (0-100%).
For more info: https://www.classyfarm.it/index.php/en/what-en"