About: EFSA
EFSA will keep British experts despite Brexit
The European Food Safety Authority will keep UK experts in its ranks despite Brexit, because science does not recognise borders "and we want to have the best people", the EU food watchdog chief told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
Spread of African swine fever confirmed in nine EU countries
The area of the European Union affected by the African swine fever (ASF) is "progressively expanding", the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said in its latest update on the disease, published on Thursday (30 January).
Cultured meat could be on the EU market ‘as early as 2022’
After environmentalist George Monbiot’s controversial “Apocalypse Cow” documentary recently suggested that we may soon see the end of all farming, EURACTIV took a look at cultured meat to see what it is and where we're at.
Welfare of rabbits farmed in Europe not up to scratch, says EFSA
The welfare of adult rabbits kept in conventional cage systems is worse than that of those housed in other systems used in the EU, EFSA has concluded in an extensive study which investigated rabbit welfare in the EU.
EU to ban two ‘brain-damaging’ pesticides
Representatives from member states in the EU Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF) voted to ban the controversial pesticides chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl from the EU market on Friday (6 December).
New scientific research offers hope for overcoming olive tree killer
A number of promising results from innovative EU funded research presented at the recent scientific conference suggest that we might be one step closer to beating the olive trees killer Xylella fastidiosa.
France launches public consultation on ‘pesticides-free zones’
France's government has launched a public consultation about its measure related to creating relatively narrow pesticide-free zones around houses, which civil society sees as insufficient. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'environnement reports.
EU should celebrate but not remain complacent about food safety
As Europe celebrates World Food Safety Day for the first time, Bernhard Url welcomes the fact that every year, on June 7, the world’s attention will be drawn to the crucial role that food safety plays in our daily lives and to its importance in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
EFSA boss: Next time we should also assess consequences without glyphosate
The next re-authorisation process for the controversial glyphosate weedkiller should also include an assessment of a potential ban of the substance in terms of food availability, biodiversity and farmers’ income, Bernhard Url told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
EFSA: No cure for olive plants pest, the whole EU is at risk
In two opinions released on Wednesday (15 May), the EU Food Safety Agency confirmed that there is still no known way to eradicate the xylella fastidiosa from a sick olive tree. Control measures can contain the disease, but they have to be applied, EFSA's director told EURACTIV.
EU’s FAO candidate champions producing ‘more and better’
There is no universal solution to producing more and better produce, according to the former head of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), who is now running to become director general of the UN's food and agriculture agency (FAO).
Greens save glyphosate from EU ban calls, as deal with EPP triumphs
The Greens in the European Parliament have blocked an amendment calling for the ban of Monsanto's controversial weedkiller, as part of a broader political deal with the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) to back a report calling for a rethink of the EU's pesticide approval system.
Four things to watch ahead of final EU vote on pesticides
European Parliament lawmakers will today (16 January) vote on a non-binding report calling for a rethink of the EU’s authorisation procedure for pesticides.
Europe’s food safety system ‘overstretched’, auditors say
The European Union’s food safety system is respected across the globe but it’s now “overstretched”, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said in a report published on Tuesday (15 January), urging policymakers to bolster implementation capacity.
German MEP: Politicians should trust EFSA, set aside their personal views
EU politicians should show trust in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and put their personal opinions on food safety assessments on hold, centre-right MEP Peter Jahr told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
MEPs ready to negotiate EFSA’s transparency rule, but need to find a new negotiator
The long and troubled parliamentary procedure to overhaul the current food transparency rules for European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) ended in an unexpected twist as the EPP’s rapporteur Renate Sommer asked to withdraw her name from the report just passed by the Parliament's plenary.
Ideological divisions mar the pesticide special committee’s last act
A deeply divided European Parliament’s PEST Committee stuck to its broad mandate and approved a diluted final report on pesticides, as political confusion continued to hinder attempts to revise the current protocol for their authorisation.
EU agriculture ministers to decide on EFSA’s budget, sources say
The exact amount of money that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will receive under the new food transparency rules will be decided at the level of agriculture ministers, sources close to the issue told EURACTIV.com.
New food transparency rules risk falling victim to EU institution spat
The future of the new proposed rules on food transparency is unclear, as the European Parliament and the Commission disagree on the timeframe to move the discussion forward.
EFSA re-confirms toxicity of organic pesticide, exposes PEST Committee boss
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released fresh data, which re-confirm the toxicity of copper compounds, pesticides that are used in organic farming.
Business confidentiality: The ‘hot potato’ of new EU transparency rules on food
EU stakeholders are playing ping-pong with the body that will be responsible for deciding whether or not to break business confidentiality and make industry studies public, in line with the terms of the new transparency rules on food safety. EURACTIV.com reports from Parma.
EFSA boss: Our advice should not be misused for short-term political interests
The selective approach of some campaign groups regarding the credibility of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) results in a “general erosion of trust” in the bodies designed to protect public health, EFSA director Bernhard Url told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Is recycled plastic safe for food packaging? EU seems to think so
The European Commission is preparing to fast-track approval of 140 recycling processes for use in food and drinks packaging, despite warnings that second-hand plastics risk containing toxic chemicals that are dangerous for human health.