Among the many international contacts of DFI, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the most important one.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the agency of the European Union (EU) that provides independent scientific advice and communicates on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain. EFSA was established in February 2002, is based in Parma, Italy. The work of EFSA covers all matters with a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety, including animal health and welfare, plant protection and plant health or nutrition. EFSA supports the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Member States in taking effective and timely risk management decisions that ensure the protection of the health of European consumers and the safety of the food and feed chain. EFSA also communicates to the public in an open and transparent way on all matters within its remit.
As the European institution responsible for food safety risk assessment, EFSA has also various data-related activities. EFSA collects food consumption and food contaminants data from all over Europe.
DFI collaborates with EFSA in various fields: risk assessment, emerging risk identification, strategic planning, applying social science methodologies in food safety decision making and also in data collection and modelling activities. Through the various EFSA networks we also collaborate with many European risk assessment institutions and public health authorities.
Links:
EFSA
EFSA Research Platform
Through the Advisory Forum (AF), EFSA and the Member States can join forces in addressing European risk assessment and risk communication issues. Members use the Forum to advise EFSA on scientific matters, its work programme and priorities, and to identify emerging risks as early as possible. Members aim to share scientific information, pool resources and co-ordinate work programmes with EFSA and each other, specifically on:
Member: Ákos Jóźwiak DVM PhD (DFI)
Alternate: Enikő Varga (National Food Chain Safety Office)
EFSA Focal Point: Renáta Prisztóka (National Food Chain Safety Office)
The main objective of the group is to contribute in an advisory capacity to and oversee projects and/or activities launched by EFSA and Member States to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Forum Task Force on Data Collection and Modelling.
The group is composed of voluntary representatives from EFSA's Advisory Forum (AF), EFSA staff and representatives from DG SANTE. Technical experts delegated by the Advisory Forum members may also be involved.
The group is chaired by Ákos Jóźwiak DVM PhD (DFI).
The annual report on the group's work in 2022 is now available.
The Communications Experts Network (CEN) is one of EFSA’s scientific networks. The aim of the network is to share best practices on communicating risks in the food chain and to promote coherence of messages across the EU. The network plays a particularly important role during food-related emergencies, co-ordinating the sharing of information among Member States so that they give consistent advice to consumers and the affected.
Member: Erika Országh (DFI)
Alternate: (National Food Chain Safety Office)
The Emerging Risk Exchange Network (EREN) was established in 2010, facilitating the exchange of information and expertise and the coordination of activities among Member States. Furthermore, it built support and commitment of Member States to the emerging risks identification activities of EFSA. The network’s main goals are:
Member: Ákos Jóźwiak DVM PhD (DFI)
Alternate: Zsuzsa Farkas PhD (DFI)
The aim of the Network on Food Consumption Data (FCD) is to support EFSA in carrying out its mission in accordance with the established standards of scientific excellence, transparency and responsiveness foreseen in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. In particular, the network shall facilitate EFSA in the collection of high quality, up-to-date and detailed national food consumption data, as well as the collation of this information into a pan-European food consumption database hosted by EFSA.
The main objectives of the FCD Network are:
Member: Loretta Larnsak (National Food Chain Safety Office)
Alternate: Zsuzsa Farkas PhD (DFI)
The Network for Risk Assessment of the Use of Nanotechnologies in Food and Feed (NANO) aims at anticipating and reducing the duplication of activities and avoiding divergence of opinions between different competence authorities in the area of nano science and nanotechnologies. The network is an environment to share data and methodologies facilitating harmonisation of assessment practices and assist in anticipating possible emerging risks in the EU.
The main objectives of the Nano Network are to:
Member: Zsófia Keresztes
Alternate: Andrea Zentai (DFI)
In 2022, campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis were the most commonly reported zoonotic diseases in humans in the EU. The number of cases was still lower than in the years 2018-2019 before the pandemic. An increase in the number of infections was observed for West Nile fever.
A new EFSA corporate video has been released, showcasing EFSA's objectives and the partners with whom it works closely to ensure that EU citizens are protected by the best food safety standards.
Often used synonymously, but the two have different meanings. EFSA's new mini campaign highlights the difference between the two concepts.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will renew the membership of its Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee in 2024. A call for applications was recently published on the EFSA website.
The European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) Fellowship Programme is a key initiative for ensuring preparedness for future risk analysis needs. Based on the experience of the past six years, the deadline to apply for the renewed programme as hosting site or fellow is 15 March 2023.
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