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
WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 3
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
WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 4
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
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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
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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
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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
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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/
WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 9
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
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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
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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)
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Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 Rapid alert system Implementing measures, confidentiality
rules Emergency measures Crisis management
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EFSA Home pagehttp://www.efsa.eu.int
Information on development the EFSA Details, responsibilities, structures and
missions of the EFSA
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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
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Bodies of the EFSA management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels
Appointed by the Management board /proposed by Commission after an open competition/ for 5 years /renewable/
Responsibilities are defined in details
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Bodies of the EFSA management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels
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
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Bodies of the EFSA management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels
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
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Bodies of the EFSA management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific 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
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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.
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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
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