EU national food safety authorities commit to strengthening their partnership with EFSA

29 Sep 2016 12:33 PM

The Members of EFSA’s Advisory Forum have reaffirmed their continued support for EFSA and its work. In a Declaration of Commitment they have agreed on a range of measures and activities that will ensure that EFSA and Advisory Forum members can together meet future challenges in the area of food safety and so protect European consumers.

Since its inception in 2003, EFSA’s Advisory Forum has been a key platform for forging stronger links between EFSA and EU Member States. This cooperation has helped to inform EFSA’s risk assessment work programmes, promote the exchange of information and data, develop scientific networks and shape a coherent approach to risk communication.

The Declaration of Commitment was signed at the 61st Advisory Forum meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Dr Zuzana Bírošová, the Slovak representative on EFSA’s Advisory Forum, welcomed the signing of the declaration, which she said would help to strengthen relationships between EFSA and food safety institutions in the Member States. The declaration “promotes scientific excellence and scientific networking, allows Member States to contribute to the EU risk assessment agenda and collect information on potential or emerging risks to food safety”, she added.

Bernhard Url, Executive Director of EFSA, said: “The Declaration of Commitment by the members confirms that we are moving from cooperating to a partnership between EFSA and Advisory Forum members. Our shared goal is a common EU risk assessment agenda to promote harmonisation of food safety risk assessment and consistent communication in the interest of consumer protection.”

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