Terezia Sinkova EFSA The new EU Food Safety Agency.

Terezia Sinkova

EFSA The new EU Food Safety Agency

WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 2

There is a need to create a coherent and transparent set of food safety rules

All activities relating food chain „from farm to fork“„from stable to table“

Should: Be transparent and reliable Ensure food safety and quality Maximize confidence of consumers

European Union strategy


White Paper on Food Safety /January 2000/

= Proposals for transormation EU food policy into a proactive, dynamic. Coherent and comprehensive instrument to ensure a high level of human health and consumer protection

= a package of 84 measures


Principles of food safety Comprehensive, integrated approach Primary responsibility for food safety Farm to table policy Traceability of feed and food and their ingredients Transparency Foundation: risk analysis /risk assessment, risk

management, risk communication Precautionary principle /where appropriate/ Other legitimate factors


To restore and maintain consumer confidencethe EFSA must:

Be guided by the best science Be independent of industrial and political

interests Be open to rigorous public scrutiny Be scientifically authoritative and Work closely with national scientific bodies


Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council of 28 January 2002

laying down the general principles and requirements of food law,

establishing the European Food Safety Authority and

laying down procedures in matters of food safety


Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002

Aim:

high level of protection of human health

free movement of safe and wholesame food and feed within the Community

Tool: Risk analysis

Scientifically based risk assessment

Risk management + precautionary principle

Risk communication


Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 II. European Food Safety Authority

Mission and tasks Organisation /bodies: management board,

executive director, advisory forum, scientific committee, scientific panels/

Operation /scientific opinions, scientific and technical assistance, scientific studies, collection of data, identification of emerging risks, rapid alert system, independence, transparency, confidentiality and communication, financial provisions/


Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 II. European Food Safety Authority

TASKS Scientific and technical support for the

Community legislation and policies in all fields which have a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety

Independent information on all matters within these fields and communicate on risks

Assistance for European Commission, Parliament and Member States


Scientific Committeeand Scientific Panels

Responsible for providing scientific opinions of the EFSA

Sci. Committee – responsible for general coordination Sci. Panels established on:- Food additives, flavourings, processinf aids and materials in

contact with food- Feed additives- Plant health and protection- GMOs- Dietetic products, nutrition and allergies- Biological hazards- Contaminants in food chain- Animal health and welfare


Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 Rapid alert systemAim Protection of consumers against hazard

from foodstuffs Rapid exchange of information among the

EC Member States

Information related to threatening health of population from food and feed should be

communicated to population (identification of product, character of risk,

measurements undertaken for risk prevention)


Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 Rapid alert system Implementing measures, confidentiality

rules Emergency measures Crisis management


EFSA Home pagehttp://www.efsa.eu.int

Information on development the EFSA Details, responsibilities, structures and

missions of the EFSA


Bodies of the EFSA management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels

14 members appointed by the Council /incl. 4 members representing consumers and other interests in the food chain/

4 years /may be renewed once/

Internal rules of procedure shall be made public

Programme for the coming year - adopted by 31 January

General report on the EFSA activities for the previous year – adopted by 30 March



Appointed by the Management board /proposed by Commission after an open competition/ for 5 years /renewable/

Responsibilities are defined in details



One representative from each Member State - competent bodies in the MSs /tasks similar to the EFSA/

Advise Executive Director Constitute a mechanisms for

an exchange of information on potential risks

Ensure close cooperation between EFSA and MSs



See the slide Nr. 10

Composed of the Chairs of the Sci. Panels + 6 independent experts who do not belong to any of the Sci. Panels

Setting up working groups in the case of subjects which do not fall within the competence of the Sci. Panels



See the slide Nr. 10

Members: - independent scientific

experts- adapted by the

Commission at the EFSA request - in the light of technical and scientific development


Operation of the EFSA Issuing scientific opinions – at the request if the

Commission or on its own initiative. Documents shall be made public. Scientific studies – commissioned in an open transparent

fashion. The EFSA should inform the European Parliament, the

Commission and the Member States on the results of its scientific studies.

The EFSA should collect, collate, analyse and summarize scientific and technical data /in cooperation with.../ on:- Food consumption and exposure to risks- Incidence and prevalence of biological resk- Contaminants in food and feed- Residues.


Operation of the EFSAWhat is most important: Collaboration Scientific approach Wide access to documents Contacts with representatives of

consumers, producers, processors and any other intersted parties

Terezia Sinkova EFSA The new EU Food Safety Agency.

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