The 12th meeting in the EFSA Scientifi c Colloquium Series on "Assessing the Health Benefi ts of Controlling Campylobacter in the Food Chain" was held in Rome 4-5 December 2008. Enteric infections caused by Campylobacter are the most frequently reported zoonoses in humans in the EU with an incidence rate of approximately 50 confi rmed cases per 100.000 population over 17 countries (EFSA, 2009). The majority of cases of campylobacteriosis are self-limiting with 3-5 days of acutediarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever.