EFSA Press Releases

EFSA launches public consultation on guidance for environmental risk assessment of GM plants

EFSA reviewed and updated the specific areas that need to be addressed when assessing the environmental impact of a GM plant. These cover in particular the persistence and invasiveness of the GM plant, taking into account plant-to-plant gene transfer; the …

EFSA welcomes summary opinions covering main scientific principles adopted by its pesticides panel during its first three years

By publishing these two Opinions, the PPR Panel is providing a reference guidance for risk assessors and experts on all main scientific principles adopted in this area. These two Summary Opinions will make available to a wider scientific user community …

EFSA Management Board takes stock after 2 years: Members review progress made, consider new policies to support future growth and ...

“I am pleased to see that EFSA’s commitment to openness and the quality of its scientific opinions are already recognised in this early feedback which we have received from our customers and stakeholders,” said Stuart Slorach. “EFSA will certainly face …

EFSA launches public consultation on active and intelligent food contact materials

In general terms, active food contact materials or articles either absorb or release substances in order to extend the shelf-life or improve the condition of packaged food. Intelligent food contact materials or articles monitor the condition and/or the …

EFSA-ECDC annual report on animal infections transmissible to humans: Salmonella infections in humans in the EU down, Listeria ...

Salmonella, although experiencing a fall in the number of cases for a third successive year,remains second in the list of human zoonotic diseases across the EU with 160,649 people infected in 2006 (35 cases per 100,000) compared to 173,879 confirmed cases …

EFSA updates on its work on the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC)

- At its last plenary meeting on 7-8 February, EFSA’s Scientific Committee discussed its draft scientific opinion on TTC and made revisions following an open public consultation . - The Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) approach is a science-based …

Nutrient profiles: EFSA consults experts and assesses options

EFSA’s colloquium on 11-12 October in Parma assembled around 100 experts and stakeholders from Member States, academia, consumer and public health organizations, food manufacturers and retailers. They looked at issues including whether one profile should …

Food Safety Risk Analysis: Conference Ceremony, Osijek, Croatia

Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle   Dear State Secretary, Deputy Mayor, Chair of the Management Board, Director General, Zorica, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Introduction It gives me great pleasure to address you here in the beautiful and ancient …

Commissioner Vassiliou's address to EFSA staff

Androulla Vassiliou Thank you, Mrs. Geslain-Lanéelle. First may I say how pleased I am to meet you all today. As European Commissioner for Health, one of my main priorities is to maintain, and whenever possible to enhance the high level of food safety we …

Geoffrey Podger: Statement to the European Parliament Environment, Consumers and Public Health Committee, Brussels

Geoffrey Podger I am grateful to have the opportunity to discuss the Nutrition and Health Claims proposals with the Committee and provide information on EFSA’s perspective. I should very much like to take the opportunity also of thanking Members of the …

'EFSA: its future Direction, Mandate and Priorities', Brussels

EFSA and DG SANCO hold high level event to discuss ‘challenges of tomorrow’

Delegates were welcomed by Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, EFSA’s Executive Director, who described the progress Europe has made in the area of food safety since 2002, highlighting success stories such as the fight to control BSE and reduce the incidence of …

Jubilee Address, BVL Tenth Anniversary, Braunschweig

Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle Speaking Notes Minister, Herr Präsident, dear Helmut, Ladies and gentlemen, It is a great pleasure and honour to address you on this very auspicious occasion. It marks ten years of significant achievements by the Bundesamt für …

Letter to Prof. Séralini regarding EFSA’s Review of the Séralini et al. (2012) publication on a 2-year rodent feeding trial with ...

European Court of Auditors recognises EFSA’s advanced independence policy, makes recommendations

In its responses to the Court, EFSA reaffirmed that its most critical commitment is to provide independent scientific advice to help protect consumers. “From the very outset, EFSA has focused on providing rules on avoiding potential conflicts of interest …

Sign up for EFSA’s email alerts and newsletters

EFSA has launched two services to keep you up to date with our work: EFSA email alerts and a new, improved version of the EFSA Highlights newsletter. Subscribe to our email alerts and you will receive updates on EFSA’s work tailored to your needs and …

Joint event on Risk Assessment in Plant Health

EFSA is holding a 10th anniversary event in Helsinki on 1 October looking at Risk Assessment in Plant Health. As well as examining EFSA’s work in the area of plant health over the past decade, delegates will hear presentations on specific projects …

EFSA assesses possible risks related to melamine in composite foods from China

EFSA’s scientists today issued a statement saying that if adults in Europe were to consume chocolates and biscuits containing contaminated milk powder, they would not exceed the TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) of 0.5 mg/kg body weight, even in worst case …

EFSA provides guidance to applicants on health claims: Final Guidance Document published

EFSA has given the opportunity to Member States and stakeholders to comment on the draft guidance document on disease risk reduction claims and claims for children. A technical meeting with experts of the Stakeholder Consultative Platform[2] was held on 11 …

EFSA animal health and welfare recommendations on the import of wild birds

Although the probability can vary according to the captive wild bird species and the likelihood of infection in captivity, there is a high probability of some species carrying infectious animal diseases and transmitting them to other birds in the EU. In …