Feedback from a public consultation has helped EFSA to finalise the strategy for its next re-evaluation of the toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA). A “scientific protocol” that transparently details upfront...

The declining trend of salmonellosis cases in the EU has levelled off according to the annual report on zoonotic diseases published today. Cases of Salmonella Enteritidis acquired in the EU have...

Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has refined the template for calculating dermal absorption for in vitro studies for pesticides. The changes took account of feedback from...

EFSA took part in a high-level ministerial conference on Xylella fastidiosa on 1 December 2017. The meeting in Paris was organised jointly by the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis...

EFSA has published its second EU summary report on the monitoring of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSEs are a group of diseases that affect the brain and nervous system of humans...

EFSA’s latest data report summarises the monitoring data from 2015, including compliance rates with EU residue limits, for a range of veterinary medicines, unauthorised substances and contaminants...

More than 250 plant health experts from around the world met in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, this week to share and debate the latest scientific developments on efforts to tackle the spread of Xylella...

EFSA’s updated risk assessments on the potential risks to bees from neonicotinoid pesticides will be finalised in February 2018. The assessments for clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam will be...

Sharing best practices in fighting African swine fever is critical to halt the spread of the disease, say EFSA experts. These include early detection methods and rigorous emergency measures. EFSA...

EFSA’s pesticide experts have developed an approach that could help risk assessors to make better use of epidemiological data in the assessment of active chemical substances used in pesticides. The...

A set of indicators will assist European Union (EU) Member States to assess their progress in reducing the use of antimicrobials and combatting antimicrobial resistance. These indicators have been...

Consumer exposure to furan and methylfurans in food could lead to possible long-term liver damage. The most exposed group of people are infants, mainly through consumption of ready-to-eat jarred or...

Migratory wild birds crossing the north-eastern and eastern border of the European Union is the most likely pathway for avian influenza to enter the territory, says EFSA. Experts assessed the risk of...

The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, visited the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 25 September 2017, where he met with EFSA’s Executive Director, Bernhard Url, and...

EFSA has set dietary reference values for riboflavin (vitamin B2) as part of its review of scientific advice on nutrient intakes. Based on new scientific findings, the Panel on Dietetic Products...

Two new guidance documents – on the weight-of-evidence approach and biological relevance assessment – will help to further harmonise methodologies across the areas in which EFSA works. Scientific...

Exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food, in particular for frequent and high consumers of tea and herbal infusions, is a possible long-term concern for human health due to their potential...

The European Food Safety Authority, the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are concerned about the impact of use of antibiotics on the increase in...

The European response to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) after the crisis of the 1980s has significantly reduced prevalence of the disease in cattle. However, isolated cases are still being...

EFSA has established a safe intake level for glutamic acid and glutamates used as food additives after re-evaluating their safety. The Authority also concluded that estimated dietary exposure to...

Consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat and liver is the most common cause of hepatitis E infection in the EU, said EFSA. More than 21,000 cases of hepatitis E infections have been reported in...

EFSA launched its OpenFoodTox database of chemical hazards in food and feed. The database is a rich source of toxicological information for risk assessment that can potentially support the reduction...

EFSA has published new guidance on dermal absorption of plant protection products (PPPs). The guidance proposes default values to be used in the absence of experimental data for the risk assessment of...

The European Commission has launched today its new EU action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – a growing threat that is responsible for 25,000 deaths in the EU every year. The action...

Beekeepers, scientists, policy-makers and other relevant parties are to set up a European bee partnership that could transform the way bee health is assessed in the EU. The pledge was the main outcome...

EFSA has published supplementary guidance on allergenicity to further strengthen risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants. The document considers new scientific and regulatory developments...

Existing safe levels for nitrites and nitrates intentionally added to meat and other foods are sufficiently protective for consumers, EFSA has concluded after re-evaluating their safety. Consumer...

EFSA’s approach for assessing substances found in food intended for infants below 16 weeks of age will further support EU decision-making on the safety of food for this age group. The guidance will...

EFSA experts have examined issues surrounding the slaughter of pregnant farmed animals in Europe. According to EFSA expert judgement, on average 3% of dairy cows, 1.5 % of beef cattle, 0.5% of pigs, 0...