Annual report of the Scientific Network on Microbiological Risk Assessment 2023

Among the tasks of EFSA, according to its founding regulation (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002), there is the establishment of a system of Networks of organisations operating in the fields within EFSA's mission, the objective being to facilitate a scientific cooperation framework by the coordination of activities, the exchange of information, the development and implementation of joint projects, the exchange of expertise and best practices. The Scientific Network on Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA Network) had its first meeting in 2007. Currently, 25 European Union Member States and two observer countries (Switzerland and Norway) are participating in the MRA Network. The 23^rd meeting was held on 4‐5 October 2023 as a hybrid‐meeting in Parma and online. A wide range of activities related to microbial risk assessment were presented including pathogenicity of STEC, risks due to power failure, heating and refrigerated storage of eggs, milk from dairy farms with botulism, Echinococcus eggs on berries, Salmonella in the pork chain, Campylobacter transmission routes, Listeria monocytogenes growth and presence in ready‐to‐eat foods, pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae in cakes, pericarditis in broilers at post‐mortem and update on Taenia solium outbreak. Activities of the EFSA BIOHAZ panel and the BIOHAW Unit were presented.