Manual for reporting of food-borne outbreaks in accordance with Directive 2003/99/EC from the year 2012

This manual provides specific guidance for reporting on food-borne outbreaks under the framework of Directive 2003/99/EC and it is based on the reporting format described in the EFSA Report onUpdated technical specifications for harmonised reporting of food-borne outbreaks through the European Union reporting system in accordance with Directive 2003/99/EC. The objective is to harmonise and streamline the reporting made by the Member States. The manual includes the description of the structure and scope of the reporting system for food-borne outbreaks, the definitions used in the system as well as the variables to be reported on. It gives detailed advice, often through examples, how to report and classify the causative agents, food vehicles implicated, settings, places of origin of problem and the contributory factors.