EFSA, Scientific Cooperation and Focal Points

Ilias PapatryfonScientific Cooperation Unit

1st National Conference of Bulgarian EFSA Focal Point

26 September 2008, Sofia

My presentation

What is EFSA? How doesEFSA work?

Why Scientific

Cooperation?

What areFocal Points?

EFSA in Parma

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

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

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

What does EFSA do?

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…

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

How is EFSA organised?

Management Board

Management Board

Advisory Forum

Advisory Forum

Scientific Committee and Panels

Scientific Committee and Panels

Executive Directory and

EFSA secretariat

Executive Directory and

EFSA secretariat

EFSA’s Bodies

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

Advisory Forum

Composition

• 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.

EFSA’s Scientific Panels

• Ten Scientific Panels

• Independent scientists selected based on their proven scientific excellence

• Mandatory commitment of independence

• Declaration of Interest

Executive Director

• 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

Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle

EFSA‘s organigram

• 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) + 1.600

applications • 11 Scientific Colloquia on key topics• Budget: €65.9 million for 2008

EFSA Today

Working together

EFSA’s partners:

• European Commission; • European Parliament;• Member States (MS);• Stakeholders:

(e.g. consumer groups, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), industry…)

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 available in EU Member States is requiredEffective pooling of scientific excellence available in EU Member States is required

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!

Why Scientific Cooperation ?

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!

What are Focal Points?

• Individual person or institution;

• Established by Member States, nominated by Permanent Representations!

interface

SCO FPsEFSANational

competent authorities & networks

Facts & Figures of Focal Points

Status on Focal Point agreements:

All 27 signed;

EEA/EFTAcountries invited tonominateFocal Points.

Role of Focal Points

Focal Points support the Advisory Forum Member to:

1. Exchange scientific information;

2. Support Article 36 network andExpert Database;

3. Establish and maintain national networks; 4. Raise visibility of EFSA‘s scientific work in Member States.

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.

Exchange scientific information

E.g.

• Research results and scientific reviews;

• Data collection and surveys;

• National scientific opinions

and statements.

EFSA Scientific Colloquia

11th Colloquium: 22-23 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

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 competentorganisations established

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.

Article 36 list

Article 36

• 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: http://www.efsa.eu.int/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_call_for_proposals.htm

• 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

Article 36 list

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.

Get involved !

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.

The Expert Database

DisciplinesEFSA 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).

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.

Call for Scientific Committee and Panels

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

Application process

• 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

Fill in an online form on the EFSA website and make a declaration of interests (to ensure their independence)

Selection

• Scientific Committee & Panel Members• 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

EFSA Seminars: Join EFSA in assessing food safety risks in Europe!

• 29 - 30 October 2008, Budapest, HUNGARYScientists mainly from: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Romania and Slovenia

• 26 - 27 November 2008, Warsaw, POLANDScientists mainly from: Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovak Republic

Apply now!

• Get involved with EFSA and…• 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

www.efsa.europawww.efsa.europa.eu.eu

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.

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).

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 reviewthe Focal Points’ work at theend of the year.

Focal Points

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention