Terezia Sinkova EFSA The new EU Food Safety

Terezia Sinkova EFSA The new EU Food Safety Agency WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency

European Union strategy 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: p Be transparent and reliable p Ensure food safety and quality p Maximize confidence of consumers WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 2

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 3

Principles of food safety p p p p 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 WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 4

To restore and maintain consumer confidence the EFSA must: Be guided by the best science p Be independent of industrial and political interests p Be open to rigorous public scrutiny p Be scientifically authoritative and p Work closely with national scientific bodies p WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 5

Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council of 28 January 2002 p laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, p establishing the European Food Safety Authority and p laying down procedures in matters of food safety WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 6

Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 Aim: Tool: Risk analysis high level of protection of human health free movement of safe and wholesame food and feed within the Community Scientifically based risk assessment WHO, Almaty 2002 Risk management + precautionary principle Risk communication EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 7

Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 II. European Food Safety Authority p p p 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 8

Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 II. European Food Safety Authority TASKS p 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 p Independent information on all matters within these fields and communicate on risks Assistance for European Commission, Parliament and Member States WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 9

Scientific Committee and Scientific Panels Responsible for providing scientific opinions of the EFSA Sci. Committee – responsible for general coordination p 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 p WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 10

Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 Rapid alert system Aim p Protection of consumers against hazard from foodstuffs p 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) WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 11

Regulation /EC/ No. 178/2002 Rapid alert system Implementing measures, confidentiality rules p Emergency measures p Crisis management p WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 12

EFSA Home page http: //www. efsa. eu. int Information on development the EFSA p Details, responsibilities, structures and missions of the EFSA p WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 13

Bodies of the EFSA p p p management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels p p p WHO, Almaty 2002 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 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 14

Bodies of the EFSA p p p management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels p p WHO, Almaty 2002 Appointed by the Management board /proposed by Commission after an open competition/ for 5 years /renewable/ Responsibilities are defined in details EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 15

Bodies of the EFSA p p p management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels p p WHO, Almaty 2002 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 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 16

Bodies of the EFSA p p p management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels WHO, Almaty 2002 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 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 17

Bodies of the EFSA p p p management board executive director advisory forum scientific committee scientific panels WHO, Almaty 2002 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 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 18

Operation of the EFSA p p p 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. WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 19

Operation of the EFSA What is most important: p Collaboration p Scientific approach p Wide access to documents p Contacts with representatives of consumers, producers, processors and any other intersted parties WHO, Almaty 2002 EFSA - the new Food Safety Agency 20