Editing Sprouting (section)

==European Union regulations==
In order to prevent incidents like the 2011 [[Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli|EHEC]] epidemic, on 11 March 2013, the [[European Commission]] issued three new, tighter regulations.
* Regulation (EU) No 208/2013 requires that the origins of seeds must always be traceable at all stages of processing, production, and distribution. Therefore, a full description of the seeds or sprouts needs to be kept on record. (see also Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002)<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:068:0016:0018:EN:PDF Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 208/2013] European Commission, Retrieved 04-20-2013</ref>
* Regulation (EU) No 209/2013 amends Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 in respect of microbiological criteria for sprouts and the sampling rules for poultry carcasses and fresh poultry meat.<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:068:0019:0023:EN:PDF Commission Regulation (EU) No 209/2013] European Commission, Retrieved 04-20-2013</ref>
* Regulation (EU) No 211/2013 requires that imported sprouts and seeds intended for the production of sprouts have a certificate, drawn up in accordance with the model certificate in the Annex of the regulation, that serves as proof that the production process complies with the general hygiene provisions in Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and the traceability requirements of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 208/2013.<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:068:0026:0029:EN:PDF Commission Regulation (EU) No 211/2013] European Commission, Retrieved 04-20-2013</ref>