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European Food Safety Authority

European Food Safety Authority. Stuart A. Slorach Deputy Director-General, Swedish National Food Administration Chair of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) FAO/SLOVAK WORKSHOP Nitra, Slovak Republic, 23-26 March 2003.

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European Food Safety Authority

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  1. European Food Safety Authority • Stuart A. Slorach • Deputy Director-General, Swedish National Food Administration • Chair of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) • FAO/SLOVAK WORKSHOP • Nitra, Slovak Republic, 23-26 March 2003

  2. Background and legal basis • BSE and other food scandals • Loss of consumer confidence in parts of the European food supply and in food regulation and control in the EU • Desire to separate risk assessment and risk management functions • Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of 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

  3. EFSA’s mission • Covers the whole food chain • Provide scientific advice and scientific and technical support for EC legislation and policies in all fields that have a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety • Provide independent information on all matters within these fields and communicate on risks

  4. Tasks for EFSA • Provide scientific opinions and scientific and technical support • Develop uniform risk assessment methodologies • Commission necessary scientific studies • Identify and characterise emerging risks • Support the Commission in food safety crises • Collect, collate and analyse scientific data • Provide rapid, reliable, objective and comprehensible information

  5. Characteristics of EFSA • Scientific excellence • Independence • Operates in an open and transparent way • Co-operates closely with the Commission and competent bodies in EU Member States

  6. Bodies of EFSA • Management Board (14+1 Comm rep) • Executive Director and staff • Advisory Forum • Scientific Committee and Panels • Open selection procedures

  7. Angeliki Assimakopoulou (Greece) Ernst Bobek (Austria) Giorgio Calabrese (Italy) Robert Coleman (European Commission, DG SANCO) Carlos Escribano Mora (Spain) Peter Gaemelke (Denmark) Catherine Geslain-Laneelle (France), Vice-Chair Matthias Horst (Germany) Deirdre Hutton (UK), Vice-Chair Joao Pedro Machado (Portugal) Pirkko Raunemaa (Finland) Bart Sangster (Netherlands) Stuart Slorach (Sweden), Chair Roland Vaxelaire (Belgium) Patrick Wall (Ireland) Management Board

  8. Management Board Tasks • Ensure that EFSA functions effectively and efficiently • Establish the budget and work programmes and monitor their implementation • Ensure that EFSA stays within its remit • Appoints Executive Director and members of Scientific Committee and Panels

  9. Executive Director • Mr Geoffrey Podger from 1 February 2003 • Responsible for the day-to-day running of EFSA • Draws up and implements work programme, budget priorities • Responsible for all staff questions

  10. EFSA staff and budget • Support to the technical and scientific committees, Board and Advisory Forum • Information gathering and analysis • Early warning of emerging risks • Risk communication • Staff now 28, planned to be 49 at end 2003 and eventually 250 • Budget: 16 (8!!) M euros (2003) rising to 40 M euros eventually

  11. Advisory Forum • One representative of each Member State (also alternates plus animal health and welfare and plant health reps) Prospective new EU member countries included from start. • Chaired by Executive Director • Advises Executive Director on scientific matters, priorities and work programme • Ensures close collaboration with national bodies • Helps to resolve contentious scientific issues through discussion • Networking, co-operation, avoidance of duplication

  12. Scientific Committee and Panels • Independent scientists selected for excellence in their field • Appointed by the Management Board on a proposal from the Executive Director • Three year term, renewable • Scientific Committee responsible for co-ordinating the work of the Panels

  13. Scientific Committee and Panels • To provide scientific opinions at the request of the Commission, Parliament, a Member State or on EFSA’s own initiative • Scientific Committee carries out multi-sectorial scientific work • Scientific Committee comprises chairs of the eight panels and six other scientists

  14. The eight Scientific Panels (1) • 1. Food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food • 2. Additives and products or substances used in animal feed • 3. Plant health, plant protection products and their residues • 4. Genetically modified organisms - not only food and feed but all GMOs except medicines

  15. The eight Scientific Panels (2) • 5. Dietetic products, nutrition and allergies • 6. Biological hazards, including BSE/TSEs • 7. Contaminants in the food chain • 8. Animal health and welfare • Working groups may be formed under the Scientific Committee and Panels • The number and names of the Panels may be changed in future

  16. Call for expression of interest • Call for expression of interest in membership of the Scientific Committee and Panels issued on 21 January 2003, closes 14 March 2003 • On web site, Official Journal, scientific journals, Perm Reps Member States, etc. • Wide call - not restricted to EU countries • Over 1000 experts have expressed interest

  17. Selection of experts • Selection is on merit and will be independently audited • Declarations of interest needed • Important that conflict of interest will not prevent normal level of participation

  18. Becoming operational • Management Board appointed in July 2002 • Executive Director in place since 1 Feb 2003 • Advisory Forum first meeting 6-7 March 2003 • Recruitment of Scientific Committee and Panels under way • No fixed abode!! In Brussels until decision made • Half of budget allotment for 2003 frozen!!

  19. Contact with stakeholders • Considerable interest and great expectations!! • Open attitude and transparent operation • Contacts with Member States via Advisory Forum, etc, Commission, Parliament. • Contacts with a wide range of interested parties -consumers, producers, traders, trade unions, other agencies with similar or related mandates, for example EMEA, FAO,WHO, USFDA, CDC.

  20. More information about EFSA • Web site: www.efsa.eu.int • Management Board meetings broadcast on the Internet • Decisions placed on web site • Opinions of the Scientific Committee and Panels will be place on web site

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