The report is based on an inspection to Iceland in September 2012 on controls of infectious agents that can be transmitted between animals and humans. The objective of the mission was to verify that official controls with emphasis on Salmonella, were carried out in compliance with the relevant EEA legislation.

The report shows that the Icelandic control programmes in general are satisfactory. In cases of poultry infected with Salmonella the control measures taken are even stricter than the EEA requirements.

There are, however, some remarks in the report that needs to be addressed by Iceland. The Authority's main concern was the lack of coordination and cooperation between the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) and Local Municipal Environmental Health and Protection Offices (LCAs). There was also a lack of enforcement of the rules:

• An establishment visited was providing supplies to a hospital kitchen without being approved or registered by either of the competent authorities, although known by the relevant LCA.
  
  
• Limited immediate actions were taken on the spot by the LCA in a hospital kitchen with regard to unsatisfactory cleaning procedures and unidentifiable, expired and untraceable products.

The report includes a number of recommendations addressed to the Icelandic competent authority aimed at rectifying identified shortcomings and enhancing the control system in place.

MAST has taken note of the shortcomings identified, and has provided an action plan with deadlines in which the Authority's recommendations are addressed. The comments from MAST including the action plan and comments from the visited LCA can be found Annex 5 of the report.

The final report can be read by clicking here.