These guidelines provide guidance to competent authorities on the preparedness for and management of foodborne outbreaks, including the communication with international networks, such as the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and notification to the World Health Organization (WHO) under the

international health regulations (IHR) when it is necessary. The guidance addresses preparedness, detection and response with the intent of limiting the extent of such outbreaks. They include recommendations on the appropriate use of new analytical technologies, for example, genetic typing methods in outbreak investigation.

The scope is limited to biological hazards, as they are the predominant cause of foodborne outbreaks.

These guidelines also describe the role of competent authorities at the local, national and, where applicable, the international level (e.g. groups of countries) and the collaboration among them in official network structures.

Guidelines are included on collaboration and communication with food business operators and other stakeholders before and during foodborne outbreaks, as well as on post-outbreak measures and outbreak management review when an outbreak has been declared over. Maintenance of the structures and training methods to strengthen the response by the networks are also addressed.