Commission campaigns for a European Food Authority
The European Commission has stepped up its campaign for a 'European food authority' adopting a proposal for a Council and Parliament regulation, to be adopted by co-decision, laying down the 'fundamental principles and requirements of food law and establishing a European food authority [EFA].' Health and consumer protection Commissioner David Byrne joined Erkki Liikanen, the Enterprise Commissioner, to present the proposal, which is aimed to protect both human health and the internal market. 'The package will not only contribute to a high level of consumer health protection in the area of food safety, but also to the restoration and maintenance of consumer confidence in food,' says the Commission, adding that appropriate staff and resources will need to be allocated to the proposed EFA to ensure its success. It anticipates a budget of around 40 million euro and some 250 staff will be required over the next three years, although this would eventually be expected to increase to 330. The latest proposal lays out the basic principles and requirements for the marketing of food and feed to assure a safe food supply, and sets up the Food Authority as the key instrument in achieving the new food law objectives. 'The regulation establishes crisis management procedures, expands the rapid alert system, puts in place procedures to prevent the marketing of unsafe foods and places responsibility on businesses to put only safe food and feed on the market,' explains the Commission. The main provisions of Community food law are also laid down in the proposal. These include the definition of 'food' itself, the establishment of general principles and requirements for food and feed safety. The proposed European Food Authority's role would then be to help improve protection to human health and increase consumers' confidence in the food they eat. It will have six main functions: - independent scientific opinions (at the request of the Commission, Member States, national food bodies and the European Parliament); - advice on technical food issues to underpin policy and legislation in the areas of food safety and nutrition , as well as animal health and welfare, and plant health; - collection and analysis of data on dietary patterns, exposure, risks, etc, for monitoring food safety in the EU; - identification of emerging risks; - day to day operation of the rapid alert system covering both food and feed; - a clear communication role to inform the public on all matters within its mandate. 'The main focus of the EFA will be to provide excellent, independent scientific advice and establish a network of close collaboration with similar bodies in the Member States. It will have a key function in assessing risks related to all food and feed operations,' explains the Commission.