1. 1st National Conference of Bulgarian EFSA Focal Point
EFSA, Scientific Cooperation and Focal Points Ilias Papatryfon Scientific Cooperation Unit
1st National Conference of Bulgarian EFSA Focal Point
26 September 2008, Sofia

2. Why Scientific Cooperation?
My presentation
How does
EFSA work?
What is EFSA?
Why Scientific Cooperation?
What are
Focal Points?
Die Trennung von Risikobewertung und Risikomanagement sollte dazu beitragen, die Lebensmittelsicherheit in der Europäischen Union (EU) zu verbessern, ein hohes Verbraucherschutzniveau zu gewährleisten und das Vertrauen der Verbraucher in die Lebensmittel (wieder) herzustellen.

3. EFSA in Parma
Bevor ich näher auf die Risikokommunikation der EFSA eingehe, möchte ich kurz die Behörde vorstellen.
Sitz in Parma – Italien.

4. EFSA at a glance
Set up in January 2002 following a series of food crises
(Regulation (EC) 178/2002 of 28 January 2002)
Fundamental change: separation of risk assessment and risk management
Die Europäische Behörde für Lebensmittelsicherheit (EFSA) wurde im Jahr 2002 nach einer Reihe von Lebensmittelkrisen in den 90er Jahren gegründet. Die Rechtsgrundlage für die Errichtung der EFSA ist mit der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 178/2002 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates gegeben.
Trennung von RA und RM

5. Why was EFSA created? Three reasons: To improve food safety in the EU
To ensure a high level of consumer protection
To restore and maintain consumer confidence in the EU food supply
Die Trennung von Risikobewertung und Risikomanagement sollte dazu beitragen, die Lebensmittelsicherheit in der Europäischen Union (EU) zu verbessern, ein hohes Verbraucherschutzniveau zu gewährleisten und das Vertrauen der Verbraucher in die Lebensmittel (wieder) herzustellen.

6. What does EFSA do?
Role to assess and communicate on all risks associated with the food chain
produce scientific opinions and advice
to provide a sound foundation for European policies and legislation
support the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States
to take effective and timely risk management decisions
communicate food and feed safety advice to principal clients, stakeholders and public at large

7. What is EFSA’s remit? “From farm to fork” Food and feed safety;
Nutrition;
Animal health and welfare;
Plant protection and plant health…
…these include, additives, contaminants, pesticides, GMO’s, new technologies such as cloning and nanotechnology, BSE, health claims, allergens…

8. What are EFSA’s core values?
4 core values for EFSA’s activities:
Openness and transparency
Excellence in science
Independence
Responsiveness
EFSA’s aim: to be globally recognised as the European reference body for risk assessment
Hohe wissenschaftliche Kompetenz, Unabhängigkeit, Offenheit und Transparenz sowie Reaktionsfähigkeit bestimmen EFSAs Grundhaltung. Es gehört deshalb zu EFSAs Selbstverständnis, dass alle Aktivitäten von diesen Grundwerten bestimmt werden.
EFSA hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt und erhebt den Anspruch, sich als anerkannte und zuverlässige Informationsquelle im Bereich von Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelsicherheit zu etablieren.

9. Executive Directory and EFSA secretariat
How is EFSA organised?
EFSA’s Bodies
Management
Board
Advisory
Forum
Executive Directory and EFSA secretariat
Scientific Committee
and Panels

10. Management Board – its role
To ensure EFSA functions effectively and efficiently
To establish budget, agree work programmes and monitor implementation
To ensure EFSA stays within remit of Founding Regulation
To appoint Executive Director, Scientific Committee and Panels
To audit EFSA’s operations

11. Composition Advisory Forum
Representatives from national food safety authorities/bodies with role similar to EFSA
One representative per Member State,
European Commission as observer
Special invitees (accession countries, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland)
Main goals are of strategic nature.

12. EFSA’s Scientific Panels
Ten Scientific Panels
Independent scientists selected based on their proven scientific excellence
Mandatory commitment of independence
Declaration of Interest
First established June re-established June 2006
Food additive and packaging to be split into two new panels (mid 2008)

13. Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle
Executive Director
Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle
EU-wide call for applications
Appointed in July 2006 for 5 years
Legal representative of EFSA
Responsible for:
day-to-day management
defining and implementing work programme & budget priorities
all staff matters

14. EFSA‘s organigram

15. EFSA Today Based in Parma, Italy
200 scientific experts in Scientific Committee & Panels
Many Working Groups involving hundreds of experts
Over 350 staff from 25 nationalities
Over 700 scientific outputs (opinions) applications
11 Scientific Colloquia on key topics
Budget: €65.9 million for 2008

16. Working together EFSA’s partners: European Commission;
European Parliament;
Member States (MS);
Stakeholders: (e.g. consumer groups, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), industry…)

17. Why Scientific Cooperation?
EFSA aims to deliver the best science
at the right time in the most appropriate manner
Effective pooling of scientific excellence
available in EU Member States is required

18. Why Scientific Cooperation ?
Critical for:
Appropriate allocation of resources against priorities;
Better co-ordination of work programmes, to avoid duplication of activities;
Early identification and analysis of emerging risks;
Increased coherence in scientific risk assessment and communications!

19. Milestones achieved so far…
Legal basis: Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 (EFSA‘s founding Regulation);
Strategy for Cooperation and Networking (introducing the concept of Focal Points - December 2006);
Creation of Focal Points started in 2007;
Main goals are of operational nature!

20. National competent authorities & networks
What are Focal Points?
Individual person or institution;
Established by Member States, nominated by Permanent Representations!
interface
SCO
FPs
EFSA
National competent authorities & networks

21. Facts & Figures of Focal Points
Status on Focal Point agreements:
All 27 signed;
EEA/EFTA countries invited to nominate Focal Points.

22. Role of Focal Points
Focal Points support the Advisory Forum Member to:
1. Exchange scientific information;
2. Support Article 36 network and Expert Database;
3. Establish and maintain national networks;
4. Raise visibility of EFSA‘s scientific work in Member States.

23. Exchange scientific information
“Information Exchange Platform”
Aim: to support the exchange of scientific information between EFSA and MS;
A working group has been set up under the Focal Point network to implement this platform.

24. Exchange scientific information
E.g.
Research results and scientific reviews;
Data collection and surveys;
National scientific opinions
and statements.

25. EFSA Scientific Colloquia
11th Colloquium: May 2008, Tabiano (PR), Acrylamide carcinogenicity - New evidence in relation to dietary exposure
12th Colloquium: 4-5 December 2008, Rome, Important aspects of Risk Assessment of Campylobacter

26. Article 36 Article 36 of EFSA’s Founding Regulation states:
EFSA “…shall promote the European networking of organisations operating in the fields within the Authority's mission.”
List of competent organisations established
Article 36 list
These may undertake work on behalf of EFSA, e.g.:
data collection;
preparatory work for development of scientific opinions;
other scientific and technical support, e.g. on emerging issues and crisis situations.

27. Article 36 In 2008 some 20 calls Budget nearly 2.5 M€
Article 36 list
In 2008 some 20 calls
Budget nearly 2.5 M€
Example of signed grant agreement
Quantitative microbiological risk assessment on Salmonella in slaughter and breeder pigs;
Example open calls - See:
Call for proposals - CFP/EFSA/CONTAM/2008/02: “Survey on use of veterinary medicinal products in third countries
Call for proposals - CFP/EFSA/AHAW/2008/04: Scientific reviews on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease

28. Article 36 list EFSA has launched the procedure for updating the list:
1st July 2008: launching of the procedure;
End of September 2008: timeline for receiving the new nominations from the Permanent Representations;
Compilation / assessment by EFSA;
Adoption by EFSA’s Management Board of the new nominations for the list.

29. Get involved !

30. The Expert Database: Background
Decision for setting up the database for external scientific experts taken by EFSA and EU Member States;
A key element in EFSA’s policy for the selection of scientific experts;
The database will also be available to all EU Member States who may use it to select experts for own scientific projects.

31. The Expert Database Disciplines
EFSA is looking for a wide range of disciplines
e.g. food and feed safety, nutrition, toxicology, chemistry and animal health & welfare, plant protection & plant health;
Application process:
Experts invited to fill in an on-line form and make a declaration of interests (in order to ensure their independence).

32. Expert Database: Selection
When a scientific need is identified, EFSA makes a selection of most suitable experts to assist in its activities;
Selected experts are invited to participate in certain scientific activities of EFSA or Member States;
Experts will receive travel and subsistence expenses and an indemnity for their contribution to EFSA’s work.

33. Call for Scientific Committee and Panels

34. Background EFSA’s is looking for:
Scientific Committee and Panel members
They will help EFSA deliver high-quality scientific advice for Europe’s risk managers
To cover:
Animal health and welfare
Biological hazards including TSEs
Contaminants in the food chain
Dietetic products, allergies and nutrition
Feedstuffs
Food additives & nutrient sources*
Food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings*
GMOs
Plant health
Plant protection products
*New scientific panels for which new members are not currently being sought

35. Application process
Fill in an online form on the EFSA website and make a declaration of interests (to ensure their independence)
Scientific Committee & Panel Members
Open from 23 Oct till 7 Jan 2009
Experts contacted spring 2009
New Scientific Committee and Panel members meet and begin work summer 2009

36. Selection Scientific Committee & Panel Members Members are appointed:
EFSA evaluates candidates and draws up shortlist
Management Board assesses shortlists and makes final decision about candidates
Members are appointed:
for 3 years, renewable
through an open procedure based on proven scientific excellence

37. EFSA Seminars: Join EFSA in assessing food safety risks in Europe!
October 2008, Budapest, HUNGARY Scientists mainly from: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Romania and Slovenia
November 2008, Warsaw, POLAND Scientists mainly from: Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovak Republic

38. Apply now! Get involved with EFSA and… www.efsa.europa.eu
Make a difference to European food safety
Deliver key advice to Europe’s risk managers
Be part of Europe’s network of top food safety scientists

39. Increase EFSA’s visibility
Focal Points support:
To disseminate brochures and other information materials;
To organise information events at national level;
To develop and maintain special Focal Point websites.

40. Networking
Focal Points support in establishing and maintaining National Networks in MS including:
Ministries and official authorities;
Scientific institutions;
Universities;
National stakeholders (e.g. NGOs, industry, consumer organisations).

41. Networking - looking ahead
Focal Points are building up networks!
With the help of such networks, Focal Points and EFSA will further improve the Scientific Cooperation between Member States and EFSA.
Advisory Forum will review the Focal Points’ work at the end of the year.

42. Focal Points
Thank you for your attention