In 2010, according to a review of the literature undertaken by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Listeria monocytogenes (EURL Lm), EURL Lm and the network of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for Listeria monocytogenes agreed that the International and European Standard EN ISO 18593:2004, describing surface sampling technique (contact plates, stick swabs, sponges and cloths) for the detection or enumeration of bacteria in food processing area and equipment, did not give sufficient guidance specific to L. monocytogenes detection (see also Introduction). It was therefore agreed that the EURL Lm would produce a technical guidance document on this topic with the coordination of Brigitte Carpentier and Léna Barre (ANSES project leaders, France) and in collaboration with a working group (WG). In 2012, the EURL Lm guideline (version 3) on sampling of the food processing area and equipment for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes was published. After 2015, the ISO TC34/SC9/WG17 worked on the revision of the International and European Standard EN ISO 18593, based on the 2012 EURL Lm guideline. This led to the revision of the International and European Standard EN ISO 18593 which was published in 2018. Following the revision of International and European Standard EN ISO 18593 in 2018 and the revision of International and European Standard EN ISO 11290 - 1 and -2 in 2017, it was agreed that the EURL Lm would write a revision of this guideline in collaboration with a WG comprised 23 members from 12 EU Member States (MSs), belonging to NRLs and other organisations (see front page). The fourth version of this Technical Guidance Document on sampling the food processing area and equipment for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes was approved by the EU Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed at its meeting of 3 October 2023.