Risk-based meat inspection and integrated meat safety assurance (RIBMINS)

A network of more than 270 participants coming from 43, mostly European, countries who are experts in

the field of risk-based meat inspection and meat safety assurance has been created. The participants who

represent academia, competent authorities or food business operators are/were members of at least one of

the five Working Groups (WGs): WG1 on scope and targets of meat safety assurance, WG2 on farm-level

controls and risk categorisation of farms, WG3 on abattoir level controls and risk categorisation of abattoirs,

WG4 on impact of changes and alternatives to traditional meat inspection, and WG5 on meat safety

assurance system training, communication and monitoring. A crude roadmap that includes identification of

current status, resources, responsibilities and objectives of risk-based meat inspection and meat safety

assurance has been created. Knowledge and data gaps as well as directions of further research have been

identified. Details of the specific achievements of the WGs are provided in their deliverables, scientific

papers and other publications outlined in this report that serve in communication with stakeholders at

national, European and worldwide levels. Organisation of WG meetings, Workshops, Conferences and

Training Schools within this Action enabled dissemination and exploitation of the achievements on

development and implementation of the modern meat safety assurance systems, as well as exchange of

opinions on related challenges and opportunities. A platform for training of future participants of the new

meat safety assurance system has been developed and young researchers and participants in the new

system were trained. The Action has been promoted to non-European researchers in the field of meat

safety assurance as well as to representatives of competent authorities and meat industry from overseas

countries that intensively trade meat with Europe. Collaborative interdisciplinary approaches to achieve

breakthroughs in meat safety has been promoted. The Action has been important for all researches to

create and expand their professional networks, but particularly valuable for researches who were at the

beginning of their carriers. Stakeholders were regularly approached and informed about the progress of the

Action. The Action produced over thirty publications in high-calibre scientific journals. Establishment of an

active network of researchers and representatives of competent authorities and meat industry will enable to

continue work on joint scientific and educational publications as well as