The Stakeholder Platform, composed of EU-wide organisations working in areas related to the food chain, meets three times a year to assist Europe’s scientific watchdog for food safety in the development of its overall relations and policy with stakeholders.

All 24 original organisations were reconfirmed as full members and 21 other groups were approved as Associated Members for one year.

The Board also discussed a paper outlining the approach towards a review of EFSA’s communications strategy first adopted in 2006. EFSA has a clear mandate for communications laid down in its Founding Regulations and it is one of the key priorities in its 2009-2013 Strategy Plan.

While EFSA’s fundamental mandate in risk communications has not changed, the paper proposes a methodology for carrying out the review of the strategy, including a public consultation, and reflects on new developments, such as the strengthening of cooperation with communicators in Member States, increased scientific work and the ever-changing public perception of risk.