External team to review EFSA opinions
The food safety agency reports in its Strategic Plan 2009-2013 that an external review team will enhance its quality assurance programme, first introduced in 2007/2008.
The programme already involves an internal evaluation system to ensure that opinions and output have consistently considered key steps, according to EFSA.
However, the agency said that an external evaluation phase of its work will be implemented in 2009 to complement the existing programme.
Pro-active stance
While the bulk of EFSA’s work is in response to requests from the European Commission, member states and the European Parliament, the agency said that is empowered to self-mandate and initiate its own work.
“To date (June 2008), EFSA has self-mandated on 87 occasions and this has in particular enabled it to develop fundamental approaches and guidance documents,” states the strategic report.
Quick response
The document also highlighted as key during 2008, the agency’s ability to respond rapidly to urgent events by assembling teams of experts to provide scientific advice and assistance within days on such food scares as the contamination of sunflower oil, the discover of melamine in imported Chinese milk products and of dioxins in Irish pork.
EFSA, though, stressed that there are challenges ahead for the organisation including the continued impact of globalisation, which it warned could increase the likelihood of new or re-emerging risks to the European food supply.
Five-year focus
The agency, which has a budget of €73m to work with, identified six key strategic areas in its report on which it will focus its attention to guide its direction over the next five years, which include:
- Focusing on providing an integrated approach to delivering scientific advice associated with the food chain from field to plate
- Providing timely, high-quality evaluation of products, substances and claims subject to the regulatory authorisation process
- Coordinating the collation, dissemination and analysis of data in the fields within EFSA’s remit
- Positioning EFSA at the forefront of risk assessment methodologies and practices in Europe and internationally
- Reinforcing confidence and trust in EFSA and the EU food safety system through effective risk communication and dialogue with partners and stakeholders
- Assuring the responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of EFSA
The EFSA strategic plan can be downloaded here.
