This standard is applicable to the detection of food-borne pathogens in foodstuffs, and isolates obtained from them, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The standard describes requirements for the amplification and detection of nucleic acid sequences (DNA or RNA after reverse transcription) by real-time PCR.The minimum requirements laid down in the standard provide the basis for comparable and reproducible results in individual and between different laboratories.NOTE The standard can also be used for other purposes in the foodstuffs sector (e.g. the detection of food-borne pathogens in environmental samples), and for animal feeding stuffs.NOTE Becaus