Polish Focal Point – Annual Experts Summit 24 April 2009, Warsaw, Poland

1. Ensuring Food Safety in Europe through Scientific Cooperation and NetworkingThe Role of EFSACarola SondermannEFSA Polish Focal Point – Annual Experts Summit 24 April 2009, Warsaw, Poland

2. Outline • EFSA – the corner stone of EU risk assessment for food and feed safety • Why scientific cooperation • Scientific cooperation with EFSA’s partners and networks C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

3. EFSA in Parma C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

4. 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

5. EFSA’s tasks • Providing independent scientific advice • Collecting and analysing data to characterise and monitor risks related to the food chain • Promoting and coordinating development of harmonised risk assessment methodologies • Communicating on existing and emerging risks C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

6. EFSA Scientific Committee & Panels “From Farm to Fork” • Scientific Committee & • 10 Scientific Panels C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

7. Why Scientific Cooperation? EFSA aims to deliver the best science at the right time in the most appropriate manner Effective pooling of scientific excellence C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

8. Scientific Cooperation – its benefits • Appropriate allocation of resources against priorities • Co-ordination of activities to avoidduplication • Early identification and analysis of emerging risks • Increased coherence inscientific risk assessmentand communications C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

9. 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 EFSA’s Partners & Networks C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

10. Working together with… ….EU Member States EU Member States EFSA C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

11. 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) C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

12. Role of the Advisory Forum • Advising EFSA on scientific matters, its work programme and priorities • Addressing emerging risk issues 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

13. Focal Points • Interface between EFSA and EU Member States • Poland: in the Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny(Chief Sanitary Inspectorate) • Supporting the Advisory Forum Members C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

14. Four Focal Point Meetings to date • Lively and constructive discussions • Open and trustful atmosphere C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

15. Role of Focal Points Supporting the Advisory Forum Members: • Building and supporting anetwork with their national stakeholders • RaisingEFSA’s visibility & awareness • Cooperating through Article 36 • Ensuring the exchange of scientific information C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

16. Focal Points A bridge between EFSA and national food safety authorities, research institutes and national stakeholders C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

17. Raising visibility and awareness Examples of special FP-websites on the institutions’ homepages C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

18. Exchange of scientific information Information Exchange Platform (IEP) for EFSA and EU Member States Scientific information exchange C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

19. 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

20. 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

21. Information Exchange Platform C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

22. 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.” C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

23. Article 36 list Article 36 List of competent organisations • Undertakingwork for EFSAe.g. • collecting data • preparatory work for development of scientific opinions • other scientific and technical support e.g. on emerging issues and crisis situations C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

24. 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

25. Working together with…. …international scientists EFSA Scientific Colloquia C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

26. 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

27. 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

28. 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 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

29. Future challenges in a globalised world • Climate change • New technologies • New or re-emerging risks • Sustainability of Europe’s food production • Societal changes including changesin consumers behaviour • Obesity • …. C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw

30. Scientific Cooperation For Safe Foods Thank you for your attention! C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw