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EU Scientific Advisory System

EU Scientific Advisory System. Prof. Albert Flynn Chairman, EFSA Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies Chairman, FSAI Scientific Committee University College, Cork Ireland. EU Scientific Advice on Food Safety.

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EU Scientific Advisory System

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  1. EU Scientific Advisory System Prof. Albert Flynn Chairman, EFSA Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies Chairman, FSAI Scientific Committee University College, Cork Ireland

  2. EU Scientific Advice on Food Safety Scientific advice is a key component of policy and regulation for food safety EFSA - central role in providing scientific advice on food safety at EU level National authorities - scientific advice on food safety at national level

  3. EFSA - the transition (2003) successful transition from the (old) EC advisory system to new EFSA structure recruitment of high quality staff recruitment of high quality experts to Scientific Committee/Panels continuity of risk assessment tasks

  4. EFSA risk assessment structure • Scientific Committee + 8 Scientific Panels • 156 experts • Additional external experts (working groups) • External agencies • EFSA scientific/management/administrative staff • EFSA Risk Communication function

  5. Scientific Committee • 14 members : 8 Panel Chairs + 6 • multi-sectoral issues that come within the competence of more than one Scientific Panel • issues which do not come within the competence of any of the Scientific Panels Examples • exposure assessment (for food chemicals etc) • Harmonised evaluation - genotoxic and carcinogenic substances • Emerging risks

  6. Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids & materials in contact with food [AFC] • safety in the use of food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food • safety of other deliberately added substances to food • safety of processes Recent opinions • substances for food contact materials • Amino acids for dietetic foods • Calcium sulphate for dietetic foods

  7. Panel on genetically modified organisms [GMO] • genetically modified organisms as defined in Directive 2001/18/EC, such as micro-organisms, plants and animals relating to • deliberate release into the environment • genetically modified food and feed including their derived products • Recent opinions • herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape GT73 • herbicide-tolerant genetically modified maize NK603 • Austrian notification of national legislation governing GMOs • guidance notes on the contained use of GMOs

  8. Panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies [NDA] • dietetic products, human nutrition and food allergy, and other associated subjects such as novel foods • Recent opinions • Novel foods (plant sterols) • infant formula (oligosaccharides, goats milk) • food allergens (allergenic food ingredients) • Safe upper levels of vitamins & minerals (vanadium) • Ongoing/future tasks • Trans fatty acids • Health claims • Diet and obesity, chronic disease, nutrition policy??

  9. Panel on additives and products or substances used in animal feed [FEEDAP] • biological and chemical products/substances intended for deliberate addition/use in animal feed • safety for the animal, the user/worker, the consumer of products of animal origin, the environment • Efficacy

  10. Panel on plant health, plant protection products and their residues [PPR] • safety of plant protection products for the user/worker, the consumer of treated products and the environment as well as plant health • Panel on animal health & welfare [AHAW] • all aspects of animal health and animal welfare, primarily relating to food producing animals, including fish

  11. Panel on biological hazards [BIOHAZ] • biological hazards relating to food safety and food-borne disease, including • food-borne zoonoses • transmissible spongiform encephalopathies • microbiology • food hygiene • associated waste management

  12. Panel on contaminants in the food chain [CONTAM] • contaminants in food and feed • undesirable substances such as natural toxicants, mycotoxins and residues • other non authorised substances

  13. EFSA - advancing risk assessment in the EU Systems established to ensure improved management/planning of risk assessment (workplan, timelines) transparency risk communication stakeholder engagement interaction of risk assessment/risk management interaction with national authorities

  14. Interaction of EFSA with national authorities need for close cooperation between EFSA and national authorities consistency of scientific advice /communication avoid conflicting advice EFSA legal requirement efficient use of resources - avoid replication of work Advisory Forum - key role

  15. Challenges for risk assessment • increasing requirements for scientific advice • high quality + timeliness of advice • Planning and management of tasks, prioritisation, negotiation • increase support for Scientific Committee/Panels • Increased EFSA staff • Role of external agencies

  16. Conclusions EFSA • significant advance in EU scientific advisory system on food safety • successful transition from the (old) EC advisory system to new structure • systems established to ensure improved risk assessment/risk communication • challenges • responding to increasing requirements for scientific advice • cooperation between EFSA and national authorities • meeting high expectations

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