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| | Last updated on 08 October 2024. |
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| {{#drawio:European Union|max-width=650px}} | | {{#drawio:European Union|max-width=650px}} |
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| In 2000, the EU Commission's White Paper provided the impetus for a new food safety structure in Europe. A new concept for effective and comprehensive consumer health protection was introduced, whereby food safety is to be guaranteed in all stages of production and processing along the entire food chain (“from the farm to the fork”). In 2002, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was established as an independent scientific body for risk assessment at the EU level. Following that, a network of competent institutions which operate as a link between the national and European levels, as well as between bodies in the various Member States, was created. | | In 2000, the EU Commission's White Paper provided the impetus for a new food safety structure in Europe. A new concept for effective and comprehensive consumer health protection was introduced, whereby food safety is to be guaranteed in all stages of production and processing along the entire food chain (“from the farm to the fork”). In 2002, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was established as an independent scientific body for risk assessment at the EU level. Following that, a network of competent institutions which operate as a link between the national and European levels, as well as between bodies in the various Member States, was created. |
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| Regulations (EC) No. 178/2002 and the new Regulation (EU) 2019/1381 on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain, which amends Regulation (EC) 178/2002, are the main legal foundations of food legislation in the European Union (EU). | | Regulations (EC) No. 178/2002 and the new Regulation (EU) 2019/1381 on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain, which amends Regulation (EC) 178/2002, are the main legal foundations of food legislation in the European Union (EU). |
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| In addition, Regulation (EU) 2017/625 which replaces Regulation (EC) 882/2004, lays down general principles of official controls performed to ensure compliance with food and feed law. | | In addition, Regulation (EU) 2017/625 which replaces Regulation (EC) 882/2004, lays down general principles of official controls performed to ensure compliance with food and feed law. |
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| Regulation (EU) 2019/1381 on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain – the “Transparency Regulation” – amends Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, and has become applicable as of 27 March 2021. The aim of the Transparency Regulation is to increase the transparency of the EU risk assessment in the food chain, strengthen the quality and reliability of studies that EFSA bases its risk assessments on, revisit EFSA governance, achieve more coherent risk communication in the EU and improve the sustainability of EFSA’s expertise. | | Regulation (EU) 2019/1381 on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain – the “Transparency Regulation” – amends Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, and has become applicable as of 27 March 2021. The aim of the Transparency Regulation is to increase the transparency of the EU risk assessment in the food chain, strengthen the quality and reliability of studies that EFSA bases its risk assessments on, revisit EFSA governance, achieve more coherent risk communication in the EU and improve the sustainability of EFSA’s expertise. |
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| More information about the Transparency Regulation can be found at: | | More information about the Transparency Regulation can be found at: |
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| It is the role of the European Commission (EC) to promote the general interest of the EU as a whole. The “College of Commissioners” (currently one commissioner from each Member State) defines policy and makes decisions. | | It is the role of the European Commission (EC) to promote the general interest of the EU as a whole. The “College of Commissioners” (currently one commissioner from each Member State) defines policy and makes decisions, not defending the specific national interest. |
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| The EC is the EU's executive body: as the “guardian of the treaties”, the EC is responsible for ensuring that EU law is properly implemented and applied in all EU Member States. In the event of infringements or doubts about the interpretation on EU law, the European Court of Justice has the final say. | | The EC is the EU's executive body: as the “guardian of the treaties”, the EC is responsible for ensuring that EU law is properly implemented and applied in all EU Member States. In the event of infringements or doubts about the interpretation on EU law, the European Court of Justice has the final say. |
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| The EC is the only institution with the right of legislative initiative. In practice, the proposals for legislation (regulations, directives and decisions) are prepared by specific EC departments. The EC Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) prepares draft legislation in the area of food and feed as well as animal and plant health, for example, while the EC Directorate-General for Environment prepares draft legislation in that area. | | The EC is the only institution with the right of legislative initiative (or can respond to invitations from the EP, the European Council, the Council of the European Union). In practice, the proposals for legislation (regulations, directives and decisions) are prepared by specific EC departments. The EC Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) prepares draft legislation in the area of food and feed as well as animal and plant health, for example, while the EC Directorate-General for Environment prepares draft legislation in that area. |
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| Through the activities of Directorate F - Health and Food Audits and Analysis (Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004, Articles 45 and 46), which is part of the EC DG SANTE, the EC assesses how EU regulations related to food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare, plant health and in the area of medical devices are implemented and enforced within the EU and in non EU countries that export to the EU. This is achieved mainly through inspections of the competent institutions of the Member States and non EU countries. The Directorate F - Directorate Health and Food Audits and Analysis provides information on the results of its assessments. Where appropriate, it also recommends measures to remedy shortcomings and monitors their implementation. Inspection reports are published on the Internet along with the comments by the countries inspected. | | Through the activities of Directorate F - Health and Food Audits and Analysis (Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004, Articles 45 and 46), which is part of the EC DG SANTE, the EC assesses how EU regulations related to food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare, plant health and in the area of medical devices are implemented and enforced within the EU and in non EU countries that export to the EU. This is achieved mainly through inspections of the competent institutions of the Member States and non EU countries. The Directorate F - Directorate Health and Food Audits and Analysis provides information on the results of its assessments. Where appropriate, it also recommends measures to remedy shortcomings and monitors their implementation. Inspection reports are published on the Internet along with the comments by the countries inspected. |
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| |http://www.consilium.europa.eu | | |http://www.consilium.europa.eu |
| |} | | |} |
| | | Together with the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union (CEU) is the main decision-making body in the EU. One minister from each national government attends CEU meetings. Which minister attends a meeting depends on the topic to be discussed. The minister represents his/her Member State. Food safety issues, for example, are dealt with at meetings of the “Agriculture and Fisheries” CEU, while food labelling can be addressed in both the “Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs” CEU, and “Agriculture and Fisheries” CEU, depending on the nature of the labelling. |
| Together with the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union (CEU) is the main decision making body in the EU. One minister from each national government attends CEU meetings. Which minister attends a meeting depends on the topic to be discussed. The minister represents his/her Member State. Food safety issues, for example, are dealt with at meetings of the “Agriculture and Fisheries” CEU, while food labelling is addressed at the “Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs” CEU. | |
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| European legislation in the area of consumer health protection and food and feed safety is adopted through the “ordinary legislative procedure”, the most frequently applied legislative procedure in EU law. The “ordinary legislative procedure” means that draft legislation needs to be adopted by both the CEU and the European Parliament (EP). | | European legislation in the area of consumer health protection and food and feed safety is adopted through the “ordinary legislative procedure”, the most frequently applied legislative procedure in EU law. The “ordinary legislative procedure” means that draft legislation needs to be adopted by both the CEU and the European Parliament (EP). |
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| The European Parliament (EP) is elected by the citizens of the EU. It has 705 members from 27 EU countries and represents the interests of about 500 million people. The fact that the EP is directly elected by the citizens helps guarantee the democratic legitimacy of European law. | | The European Parliament (EP) is elected by the citizens of the EU. It has 720 members from 27 EU countries and represents the interests of about 450 million people. The fact that the EP is directly elected by the citizens helps guarantee the democratic legitimacy of European law. |
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| The EP exercises democratic supervision over the other EU institutions, especially the EC. The EP has the power to approve or reject the nomination of commissioners and also has the right to censure the EC as a whole. The EP shares authority over the EU budget with the CEU and can therefore influence EU spending. At the end of the process, it either adopts or rejects the budget in its entirety. | | The EP exercises democratic supervision over the other EU institutions, especially the EC. The EP has the power to approve or reject the nomination of commissioners and also has the right to censure the EC as a whole. The EP shares authority over the EU budget with the CEU and can therefore influence EU spending. At the end of the process, it either adopts or rejects the budget in its entirety. |
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| The EP also prepares draft legislation in the area of food and feed safety. The EP has 20 standing committees and three subcommittees. The “Standing Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety” deals with food safety and drinking water issues among others. | | The EP also proposes and prepares amendments to the draft legislation in the area of food and feed safety. The EP has 20 standing committees and four subcommittees. The “Standing Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety” deals with food safety and drinking water issues among others. |
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| == European Food Safety Authority == | | == European Food Safety Authority == |
