Both the ISO 6579:2002 method and the BacTrac 4300 - Impedance system were applied for the detection of Salmonella enterica from pigs at slaughter. A total of 68 pigs, reared in 62 different farms of Northern Italy, were randomly selected during 9 consecutive visits at two slaughter-houses. A total of 204 samples (68 tonsils, 68 samples of caecal matter and 68 ham area carcass swabs) were collected. S. enterica was isolated from 8 (11.8%) tonsils, 17 faecal samples (25.0%) and from 10 (14.7%) carcass swabs. The ISO method detected as positive 6 (75.0%) tonsils, 14 (82.4%) faecal samples and 9 (90.0%) carcasses. S. enterica was isolated from 8 (100%) tonsils, 14 (82.4%) faecal samples and 10 (100%) carcass swabs by the BacTrac 4300 - Impedance system. Salmonella strains serotyping and phagetyping identified 15 S. Derby, 5 S. Agona, 4 S. Rissen, 2 S. Typhimurium phage-type U302, 2 S. Typhimurium DT120, 2 S. enterica 1, 4, 5, 12:i.-, 2 S. Kapemba, 1 S. Give, 1 S. Anatum and 1 S. enterica non-typeable (R strain).