Upload
martin-gordon
View
218
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Ensuring Food Safety in Europe through Scientific Cooperation and Networking
The Role of EFSA
Carola SondermannEFSA
Polish Focal Point – Annual Experts Summit
24 April 2009, Warsaw, Poland
2C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Outline
1. EFSA – the corner stone of EU risk assessment for food and feed safety
2. Why scientific cooperation
3. Scientific cooperation with EFSA’s partners and networks
3C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA in Parma
4C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA at a glance
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
• Established in 2002• Separation of Risk Assessment and Risk Management• Independent• 393 staff members with 25 nationalities - incl 5 Poles • About 200 scientific experts in 10 Scientific Panels
and the Scientific Committee• Networks with > 1200 scientific experts • > 1300 scientific outputs (opinions and reports)
published to date
5C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA’s tasks
1. Providing independent scientific advice
2. Collecting and analysing data to characterise and monitor risks related to the food chain
3. Promoting and coordinating development of harmonised risk assessment methodologies
4. Communicating on existing and emerging risks
6C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA Scientific Committee & Panels
“From Farm to Fork”
Scientific Committee &
10 Scientific Panels
7C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Why Scientific Cooperation?
EFSA aims to deliver the best science at the right time in the most appropriate manner
EFSA aims to deliver the best science at the right time in the most appropriate manner
Effective pooling of scientific excellence Effective pooling of scientific excellence
8C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
• Appropriate allocation of resources against priorities
• Co-ordination of activities to avoid duplication
• Early identification and analysis of emerging risks
• Increased coherence inscientific risk assessment and communications
Scientific Cooperation – its benefits
9C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA’s Partners & Networks
Working together with …
EU bodies and institutions EU Member States Stakeholders (i.e. consumer
organisations, industry, NGOs)
International bodies and organisations
and with… Scientific experts across the
world
10C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA EU Member States
Working together with…….EU Member States
11C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Advisory Forum
Representatives from national food safety
authorities of all 27 EU Member States
and from Norway, Switzerland, Island
and the European Commission(as observers)
12C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Role of the Advisory Forum
Committed to
• Exchange scientific data • Co-ordinate risk communications activities and
messages • Address contentious issues and diverging
opinions • Set up working groups to focus
collectively on specific issues • Co-ordinate work and
avoid duplication
• Advising EFSA on scientific matters, its work programme and priorities
• Addressing emerging risk issues
13C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Focal Points
• Interface between EFSA and EU Member States
• Poland: in the Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny (Chief Sanitary Inspectorate)
• Supporting the Advisory Forum Members
14C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Four Focal Point Meetings to date
• Lively and constructive discussions
• Open and trustful atmosphere
15C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Role of Focal Points
Supporting the Advisory Forum Members:
• Building and supporting a network with their national stakeholders
• Raising EFSA’s visibility & awareness
• Cooperating through Article 36
• Ensuring the exchange of scientific information
16C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Focal Points
A bridge between EFSA and national food safety authorities, research institutes
and national stakeholders
17C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Raising visibility and awareness
Examples of special FP-websites on the institutions’ homepages
18C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Exchange of scientific information
Information Exchange Platform (IEP)for EFSA and EU Member States
Scientific information exchange
19C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Information Exchange Platform
• On the EFSA Extranet• Access: Advisory Forum, Focal Points, its
CommunicationsWG and EFSA staff
Platform should facilitate access to relevant scientific information available in the public domain
•No confidential papers to be uploaded onto the IEP
20C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Information Exchange Platform
Focus on• Information on risk assessment activities
from EFSA and national risk assessment bodies - mandates and outputs (opinions, statements, technical reports)
• Work plans and country profiles• Calendar of risk assessment events
21C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Information Exchange Platform
22C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Article 36
Article 36 of EFSA’s Founding Regulation* states:
* Regulation (EG) 178/2002
EFSA “… shall promote the European networking of organisations
operating in the fields within the Authority's mission.”
23C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Article 36
List of competentorganisations
Undertaking work for EFSA e.g.• collecting data• preparatory work for development of scientific
opinions • other scientific and technical support
e.g. on emerging issues and crisis situations
Article 36 list
24C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Working together with……EFSA Stakeholders
'Civil Society Stakeholders‘
• Consumer groups• NGOs and • Market operators such
as farmers, food & feed manufacturers or distributors and
• Science professionals
‘Institutional Stakeholders’
• Bodies and organisations with which EFSA has a legal obligation to work, i.e. European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States
25C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Working together with…. …international scientists
EFSA Scientific Colloquia
26C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA Scientific Colloquia
Aim: Better understanding of fundamental scientific issues
Scope: Open scientific debate on topics central to EFSA’s work
Audience: - 70 to 120 participants - International scientists, experts in the
specific field
Outcome: Published as scientific summary
reports
27C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
EFSA Scientific Colloquia
Two Colloquia in 2008: • May 2008, Acrylamide carcinogenicity - New evidence in relation to dietary exposure • Dec 2008, Important aspects of Risk Assessment of Campylobacter
28C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
International cooperation
Scientific cooperation on a global scale to secure the safety of European food
Sharing information and practices with international bodies e.g. WHO/FAO, national authorities of the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan
29C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Future challenges in a globalised world
• Climate change• New technologies• New or re-emerging risks• Sustainability of Europe’s food
production• Societal changes including changes
in consumers behaviour• Obesity• ….
30C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw
Scientific Cooperation For Safe Foods
Thank you for your attention!