eu restrictions on poultry meat due to salmonella detection in november 2017 brazil raised concerns over the reinforced border testing controls in the european union which had resulted in increased reports of salmonella detections in poultry. additionally brazil pointed out that distinct microbiological criteria for fresh meat products and poultry meat preparations were unjustified as the two products were similar. brazil argued there was incorrect risk management and communication contrary to the principles of the sps agreement and asked the european union to provide scientific justification for these measures. the european union acknowledged the difference in microbiological criteria for salmonella for the two product categories as pointed out by brazil indicating that the scientific considerations were based on the opinion of the scientific committee on veterinary measures relating to public health on salmonella in foodstuffs. the european union stated that there was no justification to revise the criteria. the european union added that all shipments from brazil were subject to pre-export testing as a reaction to the meat fraud scandal and on the basis of the results of an audit carried out in april 2017. however despite the pre-export tests the prevalence of salmonella found in poultry meat consignments from brazil at the eu border was close to 8 and this was a matter of concern. the european union noted its willingness to continue bilateral discussions on this issue. in march 2018 brazil reiterated concerns over the reinforced border testing controls in the european union which had resulted in increased reports of salmonella detections in poultry. in addition brazil pointed out that distinct microbiological criteria for fresh meat products and poultry meat preparations were unjustified as the two products were similar. brazil explained that it exported a considerable volume of uncooked salted poultry meat and seasoned poultry meat to the european union which were both commercially defined as poultry meat preparations. however brazil argued that the food safety specifications for salted poultry meat should be the same as those applied to fresh poultry meat since their intrinsic characteristics relevant to microbial food safety were virtually identical. in addition both products were uncooked had similar muscle fibre structure and were not intended for immediate human consumption. brazil queried the scientific justification for the adoption of different food safety criteria for these products. brazil also indicated that over 95 of the notifications of positive results in salmonella detection by the european unions rapid alert system for food and feeds rasff were related to salmonella in salted poultry meat with no public health significance. brazil further highlighted that the standing committee on plants animals food and feed was scheduled to discuss the delisting of brazilian establishments which were currently authorized to export products of animal origin. brazil emphasized that such a decision could have a negative result on brazils exports to the european union and would constitute an unjustified barrier to trade. the european union acknowledged the difference in microbiological criteria for salmonella for the two product categories as pointed out by brazil indicating that the scientific considerations were based on the opinion of the scientific committee on veterinary measures relating to public health on salmonellae in foodstuffs. the european union stated that there was no justification for revising the criteria and that they applied to both domestic production and imports into the european union. the european union added that shipments from brazil were subject to laboratory testing at 20 frequency at the eu borders in addition to the checks that were requested to be carried out by the brazilian authorities on each consignment before the export takes place. these controls were put in place last year following the meat fraud scandal