Food file

Following a series of food scares in the 1990s, European governments and MEPs in 2002 agreed to set up a new scientific advisory body to monitor EU food and animal feed chains, and to assess the latest food safety research. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) started work a year later.

EU legislation defines EFSA as "an independent scientific source of advice, information and risk communication in order to improve consumer confidence".

EFSA’s core responsibility is assessing the safety of human food. It is expected to consider all aspects of the food production chain and the production of animal feed, where these can have an effect on human food safety. It also has a limited role assessing some environmental and worker safety practices.

The first EFSA opinion was published in July 2003 and concluded that Austria had no scientific evidence to support a national ban on planting genetically modified (GM) crops.

After two years in temporary offices in Brussels, EFSA moved to its official seat in the northern-Italian city of Parma in 2005.

Early risk assessments, as foreseen by to 2002 regulation, focused on GM crops and on human food quality.

Increasing European interest in healthy lifestyles has however seen EFSA start work to produce health guidance, alongside its core food safety remit. The authority is currently helping the EU to define healthy levels of salt, sugar and fat, under the 2005 health claims regulation.

Following a series of food scares in the 1990s, European governments and MEPs in 2002 agreed to set up a new scientific advisory body to monitor EU food and animal feed chains, and to assess the latest food safety research. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) started work a year later.