European Food Safety Authority

Description

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is a European agency funded by the European Union that operates independently of the European legislative and executive institutions (Commission, Council, Parliament) and EU Member States.

It was set up in 2002 following a series of food crises in the late 1990s to be a source of scientific advice and communication on risks associated with the food chain. The agency was legally established by the EU under the General Food Law - Regulation 178/2002. The General Food Law created a European food safety system in which responsibility for risk assessment (science) and for risk management (policy) are kept separate. EFSA is responsible for the former area, and also has a duty to communicate its scientific findings to the public.

EFSA aims to provide high-quality scientific advice to form the basis for European policies and legislation based on the expertise of its network of scientists and staff and the quality of its science-based information and methodologies, which are grounded in internationally recognised standards.

EFSA produces scientific opinions and advice on: Food and feed safety, Nutrition, Animal health and welfare, Plant protection, and Plant health. Moreover, EFSA considers, through environmental risk assessments, the possible impact of the food chain on the biodiversity of plant and animal habitats.

Since it was set up, EFSA has delivered scientific advice on a wide range of issues such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Salmonella, food additives such as aspartame, allergenic food ingredients, genetically modified organisms, pesticides, and animal health issues such as avian influenza.

ESFA collects and analyses data to ensure that European risk assessment is supported by the most comprehensive scientific information available. It does this in cooperation with EU Member States.