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EFSA today
To contribute to ensuring Europe’s food is safe, EFSA is:
1. a key actor in the EU food safety system
2. committed to excellence in risk assessment
3. sustained by a robust governance
4. an advocate of scientific cooperation
5. leading on risk communications
6. constantly evolving to meet new challenges
EFSA today
EFSA TODAY
EFSA is a key actor in the EU food safety system
EFSA today
01
EFSA IS
the European reference body for risk assessment
covers the entire food chain – from farm to fork
committed to ensuring food and feed safety
an independent authority
EFSA today
EFSA IS TASKED TO
Provide independent scientific advice and support for EU law/policies on food and feed safety
Provide independent, timely risk communication
Promote scientific cooperation
EFSA today
…BUT NOT TO
Enforce food safety legislation
Take charge of food safety/quality controls, labeling or other such issues
Substitute national authorities
EFSA today
EFSA WAS SET UP IN JANUARY 2002 AS
an independent source of scientific advice and communication on risks associated with the food chain
part of a comprehensive program to:• improve EU food safety system
• help ensure a high level of consumer protection
• restore and maintain confidence in the EU food supply
EFSA today
...WITH HEADQUARTERS IN PARMA
2005: moved to Parma from Brussels
2003: scientific work starts
Since 2003 more than 3,300 scientific outputs including 2,330 scientific opinions
Budget 2014: EUR 79.6 million
Over 450 staff, 60% engaged in science
EFSA today
EFSA IS DRIVEN BY STRONG KEY VALUES
EFSA today
…AMONG WHICH INDEPENDENCE
EFSA today: priorities and challenges
Robust set of mechanisms and processes to safeguard EFSA’s independence
EFSA policy on Independence and Scientific Decision-Making Processes (2011)
Implementing rules (2012)
Review (2014)
EFSA is committed to excellence in risk assessment
EFSA today
02
COMMITMENT TO SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE MEANS
EFSA today: priorities and challenges
The quality of our science is central to everything we do
Further develop EFSA’s
scientific advice
Strengthen the scientific basis for
risk assessment and monitoring
Optimise the use of risk
assessment capacity in
EU
Roadmap
Develop and harmonise methodologies to assess
risk in the food chain
... SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE IN RISK ASSESSMENT
EFSA today
Scientific expertiseacross Europe
Impartiality of scientific advice
EFSA Journal, Scientific Colloquia, international cooperation…
> 3,300 outputs> 2,330 opinions
- 500th opinion: 2007
- 1000th opinion: 2009
- 2000th opinion: 2012
... THROUGHOUT THE WORKFLOW
EFSA today
... WITH FOCUS ON OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY
EFSA today
Procedure for Expert selection
Accepted mandates (Register of Questions)
Names of panel and working group members
Declaration of interest of experts
Agendas of the panel’s plenary meetings
Minutes of the panel’s plenary
Minutes of working group meetings
Consultations
Adopted opinions
Press releases and web stories
Key topics
... AND ON FIT-FOR-PURPOSE DELIVERY
EFSA today
Mandates Clear EFSA response
Adequate timing Meeting deadlines
for mandates / prioritization
Resources Right resources for
each task (Panel, working groups, EFSA staff, outsourcing, Member States)
... WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON URGENT REQUESTS FOR SCIENTIFIC ADVICE
EFSA today
2013 Hepatitis A
Salmonella Mikawasima
Phenylbutazone in horsemeat
Xylella fastidiosa in olive trees
2012 “Schmallenberg" virus
(SBV)
2011 STEC in vegetables
2010 Volcanic ash
Chlormequat in table grapes
2009 Nicotine in wild mushrooms
4-methlybenzophenone in breakfast cereals
2008 Dioxins in pork meat
Melamine in infant milk
Mineral oil in sunflower oil
2007 Melamine in food and feed
EFSA is supported by a robust governance
EFSA today
03
EFSA HAS A ROBUST GOVERNANCE...
EFSA today
EFSA MANAGEMENT BOARD…
EFSA today
14 Members Selected on basis of individual expertise
and competence through an open call Appointed by the Council of the EU based
on suggestions from Parliament Members do not represent EU Member
States and are appointed in a personal capacity
Wide range of backgrounds
1 Member representing the European Commission
… WHOSE ROLE IS TO
EFSA today
Primary role: ensure Authority functions effectively and efficiently
Establish budget, agree work programmes and monitor implementation
Ensure Authority stays within remit of Founding Regulation
Appoint Executive Director, Scientific Committee and Panels
Audit Authority’s operations
EFSA ADVISORY FORUM...
EFSA today
Representatives from national food safety authorities/bodies with role equivalent to EFSA
One representative per Member State; may bring specialist support
Commission represented as observer
... WHOSE ROLE IS TO
EFSA today
Advise EFSA on scientific matters, work programme/ priorities and emerging risks
Ensure close collaboration between national bodies and EFSA
Assist in resolving contentious scientific issues and avoiding divergent views on food/feed safety issues
Avoid duplication of scientific effort
Play a key role in sharing and disseminating information
Assist in increasing scientific co-operation between Member States
SCIENTIFIC PANELS AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE...
EFSA today
The Scientific Committee +
…CAREFULLY SELECTED
EFSA today
EFSA seeks high-calibre experts to serve on its Scientific Committee and Scientific Panels
The recruitment call is open to scientists from all Member States of the European Union.
EFSA chooses candidates with proven excellence in one or more of the scientific fields within the Authority’s remit.
Selection is carried out through an open, transparent procedure.
... WHOSE ROLE IS TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC ADVICE FROM FARM TO FORK
EFSA today
... AS WELL AS TALENTED STAFF
EFSA today
EFSA is an advocate of scientific cooperation
EFSA today
04
WITHIN EUROPE...
EFSA today
National food safety agencies / research organisations (Art. 36)
400 research institutes
1,500 experts
EU Agencies:
OUTSIDE EUROPE...
EFSA today
Working with national food safety organisations: US: FDA, USDA APHIS, USDA FSIS, ARS, EPA
Health Canada
Food Safety Commission of Japan
Food Standards Australia
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
Working with international organizations:
...IN A OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE MANNER
EFSA today
EFSA Founding Regulation 178/2002
Support of stakeholders for establishment of EFSA
Management Board decisions on transparency and openness
Stakeholder involvement right from the start
... TRANSLATED INTO KEY ACTIONS
EFSA today
Board meetings: open to public and on-demand (proceedings)
Public Consultations and technical hearings
Bilateral meetings
Speaking engagements
Pre-notification of scientific opinions and press releases(only Member Statesand few selected stakeholders)
... AND A STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIVE PLATFORM
EFSA today
Mission: assist EFSA with the development of its overall relations and policy with regard to stakeholder involvement
Members: EU-wide stakeholder organisations representing consumers, food chain operators and other NGOs active within EFSA's mandate
A forum for regular dialogue and exchange
Almost 10 years of operation
EFSA is leading on risk communications
EFSA today
05
RISK COMMUNICATIONS IS
EFSA today
... AND EFSA’S MANDATE IS
EFSA today
To communicate food and feed safety advice to its principal partners, stakeholders and the public at large in a timely, clear and helpful way.
... IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A THEMATIC APPROACH
EFSA today
Integrated communications plans: across all tools and
channels
themes reflecting public health priorities
continous “campaign” approach with key milestones (eg. zoonoses: annual report, baseline surveys, opinions of BIOHAZ, AHAW,…) covering all relevant aspects of EFSA’s work in an area
... WITH CLEAR TARGET AUDIENCES
EFSA today
Who does EFSA communicate with?
… AND A COHERENT APPROACH
EFSA today
Advisory Forum Working Group on Communications (since November 2003):
Network of communications units from EFSA, Member States and EU Commission
Key to promoting coherence in communications
Co-ordination of risk communications; exchange information; evaluation of efforts; development of best practices
Early warning on emerging/topical issues
Pre-notification of press releases
...TO BRING THE THEMES TO LIFE ON THE WEB
EFSA today
...AND MANAGE GROWING MEDIA INTEREST
...AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Launched in Jan 2012 Followers: 5,800 Re-tweets: 700
EFSA today
Launched in July 2012 32 Understanding science videos,
13 corporate videos 1,000 subscribers 150,000 views
5,000 followers
Data as of March 2014
EFSA is constantly evolving to meet new challenges
EFSA today
06
THE NATURE OF EFSA WORK IS CHANGING...
EFSA today
More complex regulatory work, not always predictable
Development of guidance documents for applicants (8 in 2007, 64 by January 2012)
Better service for applicants: Applications helpdesk
... ITS METHODOLOGY IS STRENGTHENED
EFSA today
Evaluation of the safety and environmental impact of new products• e.g. novel food, additives
Development of new risk evaluation methods • e.g. nanotechnology, active and intelligent
packaging
• e.g. ‘-omics’, less animal testing
Evaluation of efficacy/ benefits• e.g. pesticides (2011), claims
... CONTRIBUTING TO EU FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM
EFSA today
Dedicated to scientific excellence for 10 years: EFSA’s opinions have underpinned the EU’s decisions on food and feed safety, animal health & welfare, nutrition and plant health
Protecting Europe’s 500 million consumers: Europeans enjoy one of the highest levels of food safety in the world
Working together, working for Europe: Continued commitment, co-operation with national counterparts and the European Commission
Shaping the future of risk assessment together with Member States
... TO RESPOND TO FUTURE CHALLENGES
EFSA today
Improve mid-term planning
Reinforce risk
assessment capacity (scientific
cooperation)
Integrated multi-disciplinary advicemeat inspectionnutritionantimicrobial resistance…
Development of harmonised methodologies
Collection and analysis of high-
quality data
Proactive approach to
emerging risks
Optimise internal scientific expertise
Risk assessment training
Any questions?
