Ensuring Food Safety in Europe through Scientific Cooperation and Networking The Role of EFSA Carola Sondermann EFSA Polish Focal Point – Annual Experts Summit 24 April 2009, Warsaw, Poland

2 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw Outline 1.EFSA – the corner stone of EU risk assessment for food and feed safety 2.Why scientific cooperation 3.Scientific cooperation with EFSA’s partners and networks

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

4 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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

5 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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 4.Communicating on existing and emerging risks

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

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

8 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw Appropriate allocation of resources against priorities Co-ordination of activities to avoid duplication Early identification and analysis of emerging risks Increased coherence in scientific risk assessment and communications Scientific Cooperation – its benefits

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

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

11 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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

20 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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

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

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

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

24 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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

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

26 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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

27 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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

28 C. Sondermann, 24 April 2009, Warsaw 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

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

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