Highlights
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EFSA yhdellä silmäyksellä
EFSA yhdellä silmäyksellä: tutustu #EFSAn uuteen interaktiiviseen työkaluun
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Parma Summer School 2021 – Food Safety Aspects of Integrated Food Systems
Registration is closed Parma Summer School The Parma Summer School 2021 is organised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the University of Parma, the School of Advanced Studies on Food and...
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Grouping chemicals for joint assessments – have your say!
The latest instalment in our long-term strategy to deploy tools and approaches for assessing chemical mixtures is now open for consultation. Tell us what you think!
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Protecting bees: a new way forward for risk assessment
EFSA has taken a major step forward in its efforts to help reverse the decline of insect pollinators in Europe by proposing a new approach to the environmental risk assessment of honey bees.
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Regulated products: webinar series to support applicants
The entry into application of the Transparency Regulation has introduced new services, processes and provisions throughout the application lifecycle which affect – among others – business operators...
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Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive
EFSA has updated its safety assessment of the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171), following a request by the European Commission in March 2020. The updated evaluation revises the outcome of EFSA’s...
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Xylella fastidiosa: ‘applied research’ the key to success
Scientists, academics and stakeholders from more than 60 countries participated in the 3rd European conference on Xylella fastidiosa.
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EFSA reports set to inspire future risk communications in Europe
Four new reports published today by EFSA will provide a vast amount of technical information and best practice advice to help shape a future EU-wide food safety ‘General Plan for Risk Communication’...
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African swine fever: risks from feed, bedding and transport
EFSA has assessed the risk of African swine fever being introduced to non-affected regions of the EU via pathways such as feed, bedding materials and empty pig transport vehicles returning from...
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EFSA advises food suppliers on information for consumers
New guidance is available to help food suppliers decide what information to give consumers about storing food and time limits for consumption.
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Defrosting food safely
Frozen foods may contain bacteria that can grow after thawing and cause food poisoning. Follow these tips to defrost frozen foods safely.
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Animal transport: help us prepare our assessment
EFSA is gathering the views of stakeholders in the early stages of our scientific assessment on the welfare of animals during transport in the EU. The deadline for comments and contributions is 10...
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Antimicrobial resistance in Europe - 2019
Resistance of Salmonella and E. coli in food, animals and humans. Explore 2019 data country by country.
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Resistance levels still high in bacteria causing foodborne infections
A sizeable proportion of Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria is still resistant to antibiotics commonly used in humans and animals, as in previous years, says a report released today by the European...
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Pesticides in food: latest figures published
The latest report on pesticide residues in food in the European Union is now available, giving a snapshot of residue levels found in a basket of products widely consumed in the territory.
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2019 European Union report on pesticide residues - Annex I: EU-coordinated programme data visualization
EFSA dashboards are an interactive way of providing scientific information on EFSA topics. Click here to check out the data on pesticides residues from 2019.
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Draft EFSA Strategy 2027 out for public consultation
EFSA welcomes feedback from all interested parties on its draft Strategy 2027. The public consultation is open until 9 May.
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Transparency in risk assessment: a new era begins
New rules on transparency and sustainability are set to transform the way EFSA carries out its role as risk assessor in the EU food safety system. A new regulation, which applies from 27 March, will...
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Veterinary drug residues: compliance still high
Data on the presence of residues of veterinary medicines and contaminants in animals and animal-derived food show high rates of compliance with safety levels set by the European Union, according to...
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African swine fever: devising an ‘exit strategy’ for affected countries
EFSA has devised surveillance strategies that will help countries affected by African swine fever (ASF) to determine when the virus has stopped circulating among their wild boar populations. The...
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EFSA website gets a makeover
We have made some changes to improve the usability of our website and freshen up the look and feel. We hope you like it!
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Avian influenza: 25 EU/EEA countries affected, latest report shows
Around 1,000 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were reported in 25 EU/EEA countries and the UK between 8 December 2020 and 23 February 2021, according to the latest overview of...
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Smoke flavourings: updated guidance for applicants
The guidance is published together with a report outlining the outcome of the public consultation held in October-November 2020.
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Campylobacter and Salmonella cases stable in EU
The number of reported human cases of illness caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella bacteria across Europe appears to be stabilising over the past five years, according to the latest report on...
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Foodborne outbreaks reported in 2019
EFSA dashboards are an interactive way of providing scientific information on EFSA topics. Click here to check out the latest data on foodborne outbreaks reported in 2019.
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SARS-CoV-2 in mink: recommendations to improve monitoring
Early detection of SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) should be a priority objective for monitoring activities at mink farms in the European Union, a new report recommends. The report, compiled by EFSA and the...
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EFSA’s scientific advice to inform harmonised front-of-pack labelling and restriction of claims on foods
Our nutrition scientists will provide scientific advice to support the development of a future EU-wide system for front-of-pack nutrition labelling. It will also inform the setting of conditions for...
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ONE – Health, Environment, Society – Conference 2022
21-24 June 2022 - Brussels and online Save the date! Food systems lie at the intersection of the many critical challenges facing us today: from fighting climate change, to halting biodiversity loss to...
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Edible insects: the science of novel food evaluations
Today’s batch of EFSA scientific opinions on novel food applications includes the first completed assessment of a proposed insect-derived food product. Our safety evaluations are a necessary step in...
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New rules on transparency: detailed arrangements for stakeholders
The new regulation aimed at increasing the transparency of risk assessment in the food chain becomes applicable on 27 March 2021. As part of the implementation process, EFSA has published detailed...
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Feed additives: new guidance for renewal of authorisation
EFSA has published new guidance on the information applicants need to include in their dossiers for the renewal of the authorisation of feed additives. Feed additives are authorised for 10 years...
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Farewell to Vittorio Silano: 1940-2020
Vittorio Silano, one of EFSA’s most longstanding and highly respected scientists, has died at the age of 80. Vittorio had been a stalwart of EFSA since its inception, having served as chairman of the...
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Pesticides: EFSA to examine emergency use of neonicotinoids
EFSA is to assess a number of emergency authorisations granted by Member States for the use of neonicotinoids in sugar beet in 2020. The request from the European Commission covers 21 emergency...
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‘Use by’ or ‘best before’? New tool to support food operators
EFSA has developed a tool to help food business operators decide when to apply the ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date to their products. The ‘use by’ date on food is about safety – foods can be eaten...
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Existing guidance appropriate for assessment of genome editing in plants
Genome editing techniques that modify the DNA of plants do not pose more hazards than conventional breeding or techniques that introduce new DNA into a plant, an EFSA assessment concludes. The...
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Avian influenza: virus spreading rapidly in Europe
The risk of avian influenza moving into previously unaffected European countries is high, according to an update published today by EFSA which shows that the virus is spreading rapidly across the...
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EFSA advises on risk assessment of engineered gene drives
EFSA’s existing guidelines for the risk assessment of genetically modified animals are adequate for evaluating risks associated with gene drive modified insects. However, further guidance is needed...
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SARS-Cov-2 variants in mink: rapid assessment published
EFSA’s animal health specialists have contributed to a rapid assessment of the risks to human health from the new SARS-CoV-2 variants related to mink. The assessment, published today by the European...
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Rift Valley fever: surveillance measures assessed
EFSA has completed its series of assessments on Rift Valley fever (RVF) with a scientific opinion looking at the effectiveness of surveillance and control measures in the EU . The latest opinion...
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Slaughter of cattle: welfare issues assessed
EFSA has published an assessment of the welfare of cattle at slaughter, based on the most up-to-date scientific studies and research. The scientific opinion is the latest in a series on the welfare of...
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Avian influenza: EU on alert for new outbreaks
Around 1,000 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were reported in 25 EU/EEA countries and the UK between 8 December 2020 and 23 February 2021, according to the latest overview of...
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PFAS in food: EFSA assesses risks and sets tolerable intake
EFSA has set a new safety threshold for the main perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, that accumulate in the body. The threshold – a group tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 4.4 nanograms per kilogram of...
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EFSA launches ‘Stop African swine fever’ campaign in south-east Europe
EFSA has begun a major campaign to raise awareness and help halt the spread of African swine fever in south-east Europe. The campaign is aimed at countries that in 2019 EFSA identified as collectively...
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Glycoalkaloids in potatoes: public health risks assessed
EFSA has assessed the risks to human and animal health related to the presence of glycoalkaloids in food and feed, particularly in potatoes and products derived from potatoes. Glycoalkaloids are...
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Pesticides and bees: evidence on mortality rates reviewed
EFSA has completed a comprehensive analysis of the available scientific evidence on bee mortality, as part of its ongoing review of the guidance for assessing risks to bees from pesticides. The report...
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Parma Summer School 2020 ‘One Health’: a virtual experience
The 2020 edition of the Parma Summer School, organised by EFSA and the School of Advanced Studies on Food and Nutrition of the University of Parma, in collaboration with the Catholic University Sacro...
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Pigs at slaughter: measures to address welfare concerns
Most of the hazards related to welfare of pigs at slaughter are due to inadequate staff skills and poorly designed and constructed facilities. That is one of the main conclusions of EFSA’s latest...
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‘Food safety is everyone’s business, now and in the future’ – celebrating World Food Safety Day 2020
“Food safety is EFSA’s daily job, but it’s everyone’s business to consider food safety now and in the future if we want to limit the impact of climate change and to build sustainable global food...
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Ochratoxin A in food: public health risks assessed
EFSA has published a scientific opinion on public health risks related to the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in food – a mycotoxin naturally produced by moulds that can be found in a variety of...
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Cumulative risk assessment of pesticides: FAQ
Why is EFSA working on cumulative risk assessment? Risks to consumers from the presence of pesticide residues in food are currently estimated substance by substance. However, a number of pesticides...
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Pesticides: first cumulative risk reports published
EFSA has published the results of its two pilot assessments on the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food. The assessments – one considering chronic effects on the thyroid...
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Xylella: 37 new plant species added to host list
Thirty-seven new plant species have been identified as hosts of the Xylella fastidiosa pathogen. Most were naturally (not artificially) infected and were found both in EU countries (France, Italy...
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Protecting Europe’s plants: pest survey cards go digital
The first batch of EFSA’s plant pest survey cards are now available in an easy-to-use interactive format. Ten of the existing 28 cards – which are designed to help EU Member States plan their annual...
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Listeria in frozen vegetables: how to reduce risks
EFSA has assessed the risks to public health from Listeria contamination of vegetables that are blanched – scalded in hot water or steam for a short time – before they are frozen. They conclude that...
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Foodborne outbreaks caused by Salmonella in 2018
EFSA dashboards are an interactive way of providing scientific information on EFSA topics. Click here to check out the latest data on foodborne outbreaks caused by Salmonella in 2018.
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Pesticide residues in food: track trends with our browsable charts
EFSA has published its annual report on pesticide residues found in food in the European Union. The report is based on data from the official national control activities carried out by EU Member...
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The 2018 European Union Report on pesticide residues - the EU-coordinated programme results
EFSA dashboards are an interactive way of providing scientific information on EFSA topics. Click here to check out the latest data on pesticide residues in 2018.