About: EFSA
EU agency ‘stops the clock’ on safety assessment of hemp-derived oil as food
The EU marketing authorisation of cannabidiol oil (CBD) as novel food has been put on hold by the EU's food safety agency (EFSA) as more data on the effect of this lighter chemical compound extracted from hemp plants on human health is needed.
Glyphosate does not cause cancer, says EU committee
It is "not justified" to conclude that the herbicide glyphosate causes cancer, an expert committee inside the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has said, invoking widespread criticism from health and environmental campaigners.OpinionPromoted content
Fair play out of REACH? The EU’s approach to restricting ammunition
A case of EFSA’s maladministration has disadvantaged the public consultation phase concerning the ongoing restriction procedure on lead in ammunition and it risks undermining the resulting legal framework with unreliable data.
EU agencies push back glyphosate assessment to mid-2023
Due to an unprecedented flood of stakeholder input, relevant EU agencies announced their risk assessment on glyphosate will only come in mid-2023, even though the herbicide’s current approval will expire by the end of this year.
Commission likely to push for recycled PET in food packaging despite concerns
The European Commission will soon decide whether to allow the use of recycled plastics in food packaging despite some suggesting this could endanger consumer health.
Glyphosate approval: stakeholders squabble over who has the science right
As the EU considers renewing its approval for the controversial herbicide glyphosate, the industry is defending the assessment procedure while environmental campaigners have denounced it for not being based on “sound science”.
Commission to propose ban on ‘unsafe’ food additive linked with cancer risk
The European Commission will propose to member states the withdrawal of the common food additive, Titanium Dioxide (E171), from the union list of food additives after it was deemed unsafe by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).
EU U-turns on ‘unsafe’ common food additive linked with cancer risk
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has deemed titanium dioxide, a widely used food additive, to be unsafe in its latest study, contradicting an earlier conclusion and paving the way for an EU-wide ban after a decade of debate.
EU cautious on Danone’s shift towards ‘best before’ date marking
The European Commission has urged caution about the expiry date marking of highly perishable food after multinational food concern Danone announced plans to get rid of the 'use by' reference for its dairy products.
French lawmakers denounce EFSA’s ‘toxic’ pesticides assessments
More than a hundred French lawmakers have joined forces to denounce the EU’s evaluation of pesticides and demand that the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) step up its assessments in line with EU regulation, a criticism that the agency rejects.
Agrifood Brief: From Farm(er) to Fork
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. This week: What do Roman gods and vices have to do with...
EFSA to add its flavour to nutrition labelling debate
The EU food safety agency EFSA is to provide scientific advice to support the development of a future EU-wide system for front-of-pack nutrition labelling of foodstuffs, including setting conditions for nutrition and health claims on foods.
Grub’s up: Insects could soon be on the menu after EFSA green light
Mealworms are safe for human consumption according to a new opinion by the EU Food Safety Agency (EFSA), paving the way for the first EU-wide approval.
Agrifood Brief: (You make me feel like) a natural product
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. This week, we speak with: EURACTIV’s very own Digital Editor, Sam Stolton, about digitalisation...
New EU food agency tool reopens date marking rift
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has stepped into the long-standing issue of date marking on food by presenting a new tool to help business operators decide when to apply the ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date to their products.
Agrifood Brief: Europeans’ genuine obsession
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. The biggest news of the week in the EU agrifood bubble is...
Existing guidance appropriate for gene editing assessment, says EFSA
Genome editing does not pose any additional hazards compared to conventional breeding or other genetic modification methods, meaning that existing guidance is adequate for their assessment, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has concluded.
EU agency reports cases of Salmonella after contaminated imported nuts
An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to Brazil nuts imported from Bolivia has been reported in several EU countries, prompting the European Commission to trigger its rapid alert system.
Back to the egg: a shining example of absurd EU regulation
During this exceptionally hot summer, food chain operators and retailers intuitively used their fridges to prevent eggs from spoilage, although this is not permitted in the EU, writes Kostadin Fikiin.
Gene editing, CAP reform bickering, hospitality sector
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. German Green faction pushes for gene editing, overhaul of regulation In an unprecedented...
Lack of skilled workers ‘serious concern’ for pig welfare at slaughter
The European food safety authority (EFSA) has published its latest scientific opinion on the welfare of pigs at slaughter, which found that the majority of hazards identified were due in large part to staff failings.
Organic regulation postponement, new F2F date confirmed, agritourism struggles
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. Commission urged to hold off new rules on organic products Backed by the...
NGO challenges new EFSA studies on multiple pesticides as ‘unfit for purpose’
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the results of its two pilot assessments on the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food, but a leading European association of health/consumer groups has deemed them “unfit for purpose.”