This dossier gathers some reliable and updated information sources on food safety.
You can find below legislative overviews and summaries on this subject. You will also find a description of the different stakeholders, a review of the press information sources and databases available within the EPRS On-site & Online Library Services.
In case of serious sanitary outbreaks, such as the 2011 EHEC (Entero Hemorrhagic Escherichia Coli) outbreak, or the 2013 horsemeat scandal, this dossier will help you in monitoring the best information available.
For daily coverage, please subscribe to our alert on Food safety and follow regularly the EPRS policy area page on Food Safety .
1. EU Policy / Legislative Overview
© mybaitshop / Fotolia
Articles 43, 114, 168(4) and 169 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Legislation in force Food Safety /EUR-Lex
Activities of the European Union: Food safety
The EU’s food safety strategy:
- covers safe food, animal health and welfare, plant health
- ensures food is traceable as it moves from the farm to the table, even if this means crossing internal EU borders, so that trade is not held up and we have choice and variety in our food
- applies high standards to food produced inside the EU and to food imports.
Summaries of EU legislation: Food safety
Summaries of EU legislation: Product labelling and packaging
EP Fact Sheets on the European Union: Food safety / April 2014, Lorenzo Vicario, 4 pages.
2. EU Institutions
European Parliament
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
The Committee is responsible for food safety issues, in particular:
- the labelling and safety of foodstuffs,
- veterinary legislation concerning protection against risks to human health; public health checks on foodstuffs and food production systems,
- the European Food Safety Authority and the European Food and Veterinary Office.
Recent food scandals in Member States have highlighted the need for better food safety. The ENVI Committee critically looks into legislation concerning the regulation of foodstuffs. Better information for consumers, e.g. through clearer and unambiguous labelling of products is a main concern of the ENVI Committee.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
The Committee on Agriculture is responsible for the legislation on:
- veterinary and plant-health matters, animal feedingstuffs provided such measures are not intended to protect against risks to human health
animal husbandry and welfare
-the improvement of the quality of agricultural product
Policy Department A (Environment, Health and Food Safety)
The policy units are research departments within the European Parliament created within the framework of the reform “Raising the Game”. Their role is three-fold:
- to provide timely specialised advice to committees and inter-parliamentary delegations
- to assist in carrying out research addressing the needs of parliamentary bodies
- to manage the allocated budgets for external expertise according to the decisions taken by committees, under the supervision of the competent Originator.
The European Parliament’s Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals is the focal point for animal welfare in the European Parliament. It is open to all MEPs that are eager to debate and promote this policy issue. The Intergroup provides updates and background information on animal related issues which are being discussed within the Institutions.
Council of the EU
Agriculture and Fisheries
Environment
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs
European Commission
DG Health & Consumers: Food
The EU integrated approach to food safety aims to assure a high level of food safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health within the European Union through coherent farm-to-table measures and adequate monitoring, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market.
The implementation of this approach involves the development of legislative and other actions:
To assure effective control systems and evaluate compliance with EU standards in the food safety and quality, animal health, animal welfare, animal nutrition and plant health sectors within the EU and in third countries in relation to their exports to the EU;
To manage international relations with third countries and international organisations concerning food safety, animal health, animal welfare, animal nutrition and plant health;
To manage relations with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and ensure science-based risk management.
EU Bookshop: publications (Food technology and food safety)
Other EU institutions
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
EFSA is the European agency funded by the EU budget that operates separately from the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States. EFSA is the keystone of European Union (EU) risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close collaboration with national authorities and in open consultation with its stakeholders, EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clear communication on existing and emerging risks
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Close links have been established between the EFSA and the ECDC on issues concerning reporting under the Zoonoses Directive (2003/99/EC) and avian influenza.
Joint Research Centre: Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP)
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission’s in-house science service which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.
3. International organisations
World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe : Food safety
Ingestion and handling of contaminated food causes significant illness and death worldwide. Across the WHO European Region, foodborne diseases are very common, even in the most developed countries, and represent a significant burden for public health. Outbreaks of foodborne disease are likely to also have economic implications, as they often involve commercially produced products.
WTO/SPS World Trade Organisation/Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the “SPS Agreement”) entered into force with the establishment of the World Trade Organization on 1 January 1995. It concerns the application of food safety and animal and plant health regulations.
Codex Alimentarius – International Food Standards
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, established by FAO and WHO in 1963 develops harmonised international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect the health of the consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. The Commission also promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
IPPC International Plant Protection Convention
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an international plant health agreement, established in 1952, that aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests.
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
The need to fight animal diseases at global level led to the creation of the Office International des Epizooties through the international Agreement signed on January 25th 1924. In May 2003 the Office became the World Organisation for Animal Health but kept its historical acronym OIE. The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide. It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2013 had a total of 178 Member Countries.
FAO: Food safety and quality
Consumers have the right to expect that the food available on domestic markets is safe and of the expected quality. FAO works with governmental authorities, with local industry and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that this expectation is met. It aims at improving systems of food safety and quality management, based on scientific principles, that lead to reduced foodborne illness and support fair and transparent trade thereby contributing to economic development, improved livelihoods and food security.
4. NGOS, Think tanks, lobbies
BEUC (the European Consumer Organisation): Food
BEUC acts as the umbrella group in Brussels for its members and our main task is to represent them at European stage and defend the interests of all Europe’s consumers. BEUC investigates EU decisions and developments likely to affect consumers, with a special focus on Food.
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), Food and Agriculture
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) is a research and campaign group working to expose and challenge the privileged access and influence enjoyed by corporations and their lobby groups in EU policy making.
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe
PAN Europe is the regional centre in Europe, founded in 1987. The network brings together consumer, public health, and environmental organisations, trades unions, women’s groups and farmer associations from across 19 European countries. PAN Europe work to eliminate dependency on chemical pesticides and to support safe sustainable pest control methods.
Greenpeace EU unit
Greenpeace European Unit is part of the international Greenpeace network, active in over 40 countries worldwide and with three million supporters. Based in Brussels, we monitor and analyse the work of the EU institutions, expose deficient EU policies and laws, and challenge EU decision-makers to implement progressive solutions. We value our independence and do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.
Friends of the Earth Europe
Friends of the Earth Europe is the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe, uniting more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups. They are the European arm of Friends of the Earth International which unites 74 national member organisations, some 5,000 local activist groups, and over two million supporters around the world.
Earth Open Source
Earth Open Source is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assuring the sustainability, security, and safety of the global food system.
Foodwatch
Foodwatch is an independent, non-profit organisation that exposes food-industry practices that are not in the interests of consumers. Foodwatch fights for the right of consumers to know exactly what they are buying and to enjoy good food that is healthy and uncontaminated. Foodwatch was founded in 2002 in Germany and has offices in Berlin and Amsterdam. Its mission is to build a strong, European campaign organisation that is represented in all major EU Member States and that provides consumer-focused input into European legislative processes, advocating for more consumer rights.
Food & Water Watch
Food & Water Watch is a non-profit organization that advocates for common sense policies that will result in healthy, safe food and access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Center for Food Safety
Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a national non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy organization working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture.
SAFE Consortium
The European Association for Food Safety, the SAFE consortium, is a platform of research bodies: Institutes, Universities, National and International Societies and Research Groups and Departments within these institutions. SAFE is an international non-profit organisation acting as an independent spokesman for food safety research in Europe to the benefit of the public.
FoodDrinkEurope
FoodDrinkEurope represents the European food and drink industry, the largest manufacturing sector in the EU in terms of turnover and employment. It aims to promote the industry’s interests to European and international institutions, contributing to a framework addressing, inter alia, food safety and science, nutrition and health, environmental sustainability and competitiveness
ILSI
The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a nonprofit, worldwide organization whose mission is to provide science that improves human health and well-being and safeguards the environment.
European Food Information Council – EUFIC
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) is a non-profit organisation which communicates science-based information on nutrition and health, food safety and quality, to help consumers to be better informed when choosing a well-balanced, safe and healthful diet.
Europabio
EuropaBio is the European Association for Bioindustries and was created in 1996. Our mission is to create an innovative and dynamic biotechnology-based industry in Europe.
5. Databases
Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)
The RASFF was put in place to provide food and feed control authorities with an effective tool to exchange information about measures taken responding to serious risks detected in relation to food or feed. This exchange of information helps Member States to act more rapidly and in a coordinated manner in response to a health threat caused by food or feed.
TRACES (TRAde Control and Expert System)
TRACES is a trans-European network for veterinary health which notifies, certifies and monitors imports, exports and trade in animals and animal products. Economic operators (private sector) and competent authorities all over the world can use this web-based network to trace back and forth animal and animal product movement. .
6. News
Press Releases DG SANCO: Food
Europa, Press releases database: Food
EurActiv : Agriculture & Food policy section
Europolitics : Agriculture section
European Media Monitoring (EMM): Food Safety
Food Navigator
Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development in Europe
Dpa Insight Europe: Consumers & Health section
Agra Facts
News for agribusiness executives – immediate & direct from Brussels
Agra Europe
The EPRS on-site & online Library Services has recently subscribed to this service.
Agra Europe includes news stories written by Agra Europe’ team of experts and analysts
Agra Europe requires first individual registration to be able to access the site.
EU Food Law
The EPRS on-site & online Library Services has not subscribed to this service. Please contact us if you are interested in this product.
EU Food Law reports on meetings between the Commission, industry and other stakeholders independently and every week.
EU Food policy
The EPRS on-site & online Library Services has not subscribed to this service. Please contact us if you are interested in this product.
EU Food Policy is an online news service covering the latest developments in European food legislation and policy making.
7. Serials
European Journal of Risk Regulation (EJRR)
The EPRS on-site & online Library Services has a subscription to this journal, available via IP recognition
A Young Academic Journal at the Intersection of Law, Science and Policy. Some interesting articles covering the Food safety issues.
European food and feed law review
The EPRS on-site & online Library Services has a paper subscription, available in the Library reading room (ASP 5D)
The European Food and Feed Law Review offers an intellectual forum for jurisprudence led by experts in the field of food and feed law. As food regulations are evolving more and more at national and international level it is the purpose of EFFL to deal in a comparative and problem-oriented way with the effective implementation of European food and feed law in the 27 member states.
Filed under: Consumers and Public Health, PUBLICATIONS Tagged: agricultural production, animal products, animal welfare, briefings, distribution of agricultural products, food safety, keysources, plant health, product 
