1. EFSA today

2. To contribute to ensuring Europe’s food is safe, EFSA is: 1.a key actor in the EU food safety system 2.committed to excellence in risk assessment 3.sustained by a robust governance 4.an advocate of scientific cooperation 5.leading on risk communications 6.constantly evolving to meet new challenges EFSA today EFSA TODAY

3. EFSA is a key actor in the EU food safety system EFSA today 01

4. EFSA IS  the European reference body for risk assessment  covers the entire food chain – from farm to fork  committed to ensuring food and feed safety  an independent authority EFSA today

5. EFSA IS TASKED TO  Provide independent scientific advice and support for EU law/policies on food and feed safety  Provide independent, timely risk communication  Promote scientific cooperation EFSA today

6. …BUT NOT TO  Enforce food safety legislation  Take charge of food safety/quality controls, labeling or other such issues  Substitute national authorities EFSA today

7. EFSA WAS SET UP IN JANUARY 2002 AS  an independent source of scientific advice and communication on risks associated with the food chain  part of a comprehensive program to: improve EU food safety system help ensure a high level of consumer protection restore and maintain confidence in the EU food supply EFSA today

8. ...WITH HEADQUARTERS IN PARMA  2005: moved to Parma from Brussels  2003: scientific work starts  Since 2003 more than 3,300 scientific outputs including 2,330 scientific opinions  Budget 2014: EUR 79.6 million  Over 450 staff, 60% engaged in science EFSA today

9. EFSA IS DRIVEN BY STRONG KEY VALUES EFSA today

10. …AMONG WHICH INDEPENDENCE EFSA today: priorities and challenges Robust set of mechanisms and processes to safeguard EFSA’s independence EFSA policy on Independence and Scientific Decision- Making Processes (2011) Implementing rules (2012) Review (2014)

11. EFSA is committed to excellence in risk assessment EFSA today 02

12. COMMITMENT TO SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE MEANS EFSA today: priorities and challenges The quality of our science is central to everything we do Further develop EFSA’s scientific advice Strengthen the scientific basis for risk assessment and monitoring Optimise the use of risk assessment capacity in EU Roadmap Develop and harmonise methodologies to assess risk in the food chain

13. ... SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE IN RISK ASSESSMENT EFSA today  Scientific expertise across Europe  Impartiality of scientific advice  EFSA Journal, Scientific Colloquia, international cooperation…  > 3,300 outputs > 2,330 opinions - 500th opinion: 2007 - 1000th opinion: 2009 - 2000th opinion: 2012

14. ... THROUGHOUT THE WORKFLOW EFSA today

15. ... WITH FOCUS ON OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY EFSA today  Procedure for Expert selection  Accepted mandates (Register of Questions)  Names of panel and working group members  Declaration of interest of experts  Agendas of the panel’s plenary meetings  Minutes of the panel’s plenary  Minutes of working group meetings  Consultations  Adopted opinions  Press releases and web stories  Key topics

16. ... AND ON FIT-FOR-PURPOSE DELIVERY EFSA today Mandates  Clear EFSA response Adequate timing  Meeting deadlines for mandates / prioritization Resources  Right resources for each task (Panel, working groups, EFSA staff, outsourcing, Member States)

17. ... WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON URGENT REQUESTS FOR SCIENTIFIC ADVICE EFSA today 2013  Hepatitis A  Salmonella Mikawasima  Phenylbutazone in horsemeat  Xylella fastidiosa in olive trees 2012  “Schmallenberg" virus (SBV) 2011  STEC in vegetables 2010  Volcanic ash  Chlormequat in table grapes 2009  Nicotine in wild mushrooms  4-methlybenzophenone in breakfast cereals 2008  Dioxins in pork meat  Melamine in infant milk  Mineral oil in sunflower oil 2007  Melamine in food and feed

18. EFSA is supported by a robust governance EFSA today 03

19. EFSA HAS A ROBUST GOVERNANCE... EFSA today

20. EFSA MANAGEMENT BOARD… EFSA today 14 Members  Selected on basis of individual expertise and competence through an open call  Appointed by the Council of the EU based on suggestions from Parliament  Members do not represent EU Member States and are appointed in a personal capacity  Wide range of backgrounds 1 Member representing the European Commission

21. … WHOSE ROLE IS TO EFSA today  Primary role: ensure Authority functions effectively and efficiently  Establish budget, agree work programmes and monitor implementation  Ensure Authority stays within remit of Founding Regulation  Appoint Executive Director, Scientific Committee and Panels  Audit Authority’s operations

22. EFSA ADVISORY FORUM... EFSA today  Representatives from national food safety authorities/bodies with role equivalent to EFSA  One representative per Member State; may bring specialist support  Commission represented as observer

23. ... WHOSE ROLE IS TO EFSA today  Advise EFSA on scientific matters, work programme/ priorities and emerging risks  Ensure close collaboration between national bodies and EFSA  Assist in resolving contentious scientific issues and avoiding divergent views on food/feed safety issues  Avoid duplication of scientific effort  Play a key role in sharing and disseminating information  Assist in increasing scientific co-operation between Member States

24. SCIENTIFIC PANELS AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE... EFSA today The Scientific Committee +

25. …CAREFULLY SELECTED EFSA today EFSA seeks high-calibre experts to serve on its Scientific Committee and Scientific Panels  The recruitment call is open to scientists from all Member States of the European Union.  EFSA chooses candidates with proven excellence in one or more of the scientific fields within the Authority’s remit.  Selection is carried out through an open, transparent procedure.

26. ... WHOSE ROLE IS TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC ADVICE FROM FARM TO FORK EFSA today

27. ... AS WELL AS TALENTED STAFF EFSA today

28. EFSA is an advocate of scientific cooperation EFSA today 04

29. WITHIN EUROPE... EFSA today  National food safety agencies / research organisations (Art. 36)  400 research institutes  1,500 experts  EU Agencies:

30. OUTSIDE EUROPE... EFSA today Working with national food safety organisations:  US: FDA, USDA APHIS, USDA FSIS, ARS, EPA  Health Canada  Food Safety Commission of Japan  Food Standards Australia  New Zealand Food Safety Authority Working with international organizations:

31. ...IN A OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE MANNER EFSA today  EFSA Founding Regulation 178/2002  Support of stakeholders for establishment of EFSA  Management Board decisions on transparency and openness  Stakeholder involvement right from the start

32. ... TRANSLATED INTO KEY ACTIONS EFSA today  Board meetings: open to public and on- demand (proceedings)  Public Consultations and technical hearings  Bilateral meetings  Speaking engagements  Pre-notification of scientific opinions and press releases (only Member States and few selected stakeholders)

33. ... AND A STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIVE PLATFORM EFSA today  Mission: assist EFSA with the development of its overall relations and policy with regard to stakeholder involvement  Members: EU-wide stakeholder organisations representing consumers, food chain operators and other NGOs active within EFSA's mandate  A forum for regular dialogue and exchange  Almost 10 years of operation

34. EFSA is leading on risk communications EFSA today 05

35. RISK COMMUNICATIONS IS EFSA today

36. ... AND EFSA’S MANDATE IS EFSA today To communicate food and feed safety advice to its principal partners, stakeholders and the public at large in a timely, clear and helpful way.

37. ... IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A THEMATIC APPROACH EFSA today Integrated communications plans:  across all tools and channels  themes reflecting public health priorities  continous “campaign” approach with key milestones (eg. zoonoses: annual report, baseline surveys, opinions of BIOHAZ, AHAW,…) covering all relevant aspects of EFSA’s work in an area

38. ... WITH CLEAR TARGET AUDIENCES EFSA today Who does EFSA communicate with?

39. … AND A COHERENT APPROACH EFSA today Advisory Forum Working Group on Communications (since November 2003):  Network of communications units from EFSA, Member States and EU Commission  Key to promoting coherence in communications  Co-ordination of risk communications; exchange information; evaluation of efforts; development of best practices  Early warning on emerging/topical issues  Pre-notification of press releases

40. ...TO BRING THE THEMES TO LIFE ON THE WEB EFSA today

41. ...AND MANAGE GROWING MEDIA INTEREST

42. ...AND SOCIAL MEDIA  Launched in Jan 2012  Followers: 5,800  Re-tweets: 700 EFSA today  Launched in July 2012  32 Understanding science videos, 13 corporate videos  1,000 subscribers  150,000 views  5,000 followers Data as of March 2014

43. EFSA is constantly evolving to meet new challenges EFSA today 06

44. THE NATURE OF EFSA WORK IS CHANGING... EFSA today  More complex regulatory work, not always predictable  Development of guidance documents for applicants (8 in 2007, 64 by January 2012)  Better service for applicants: Applications helpdesk

45. ... ITS METHODOLOGY IS STRENGTHENED EFSA today  Evaluation of the safety and environmental impact of new products e.g. novel food, additives  Development of new risk evaluation methods e.g. nanotechnology, active and intelligent packaging e.g. ‘-omics’, less animal testing  Evaluation of efficacy/ benefits e.g. pesticides (2011), claims

46. ... CONTRIBUTING TO EU FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM EFSA today  Dedicated to scientific excellence for 10 years: EFSA’s opinions have underpinned the EU’s decisions on food and feed safety, animal health & welfare, nutrition and plant health  Protecting Europe’s 500 million consumers: Europeans enjoy one of the highest levels of food safety in the world  Working together, working for Europe: Continued commitment, co-operation with national counterparts and the European Commission  Shaping the future of risk assessment together with Member States

47. ... TO RESPOND TO FUTURE CHALLENGES EFSA today Improve mid-term planning Reinforce risk assessment capacity (scientific cooperation) Integrated multi- disciplinary advice  meat inspection  nutrition  antimicrobial resistance… Development of harmonised methodologies Collection and analysis of high- quality data Proactive approach to emerging risks Optimise internal scientific expertise Risk assessment training

48. Any questions?