EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY

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EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY
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MAIN TOPICS

• Background
• The new EU Food Safety Policy
• European Food Safety Authority
• Access to EU market
• Practical case of EU support for Egyptian exports

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BACKGROUND
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BACKGROUND

• Until 1990, Member States developed different
  approaches, levels and control mechanisms for
  food safety
• EU consumers relied on these food safety
  regulations
• Food crises in 1990 marked a turning point
• Regulation 178/2002 establishes the legal
  framework for a new food safety policy

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The New EU Food Safety Policy
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MAIN PRINCIPLES

• Integrated approach through the food chain via
  new set of rules covering animal feed, food
  hygiene, residues, (FROM-THE-FARM-TO-THE-FORK)
• Risk assessment based on scientific evidence and
  managed through public authorities
• Definition of roles of all stakeholders
• Appropriate system of data collection to ensure
  traceability
• Apply the precautionary principle in risk
  management
• Ensure clear and regular information to the public

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European Food Safety AuthorityEFSA
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EFSA

• Need of a central organisation in the EU dealing
  with food safety and control mechanisms
• Created in 2002 by the Commission Regulation
  178/2002
• Will be fully operative by January 2007
• Headquarters in Parma, Italy

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STATUS OF EFSA

• Neither part of the Commission nor answerable to
  it
• Will take over all responsibilities of the
  existing Standing Committees
• Independent Scientific Body
• Scientific opinion may be requested by
  Commission, European Parliament or MS
• Also could start investigations on its own
  initiative

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MAIN TASKS OF EFSA

• Provide the EU institutions and MS with
  independent information, advice and support
• Promote and coordinate the development of uniform
  risk assessment methods
• Collect, collate, analyse and summarise data
• Identify emerging risks
• Build European networks
• Greater Harmonisation of National Control Systems
• Enhance dialogue between consumers and
  stakeholders
• Overlook international dimension of the EFS rules

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Access to EU markets
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ACCESS TO EUROPEAN MARKETS

• EU absorbs around 85 of Africas and 45 of
  Latin Americas agricultural products
• It is of the EUs interest that third countries
  export to the EU
• European consumers demand high level of health
  protection
• EU ensures the EU food legislation is in line
  with the SPSA of the WTO
• Third countries and establishments must
  accomplish with EU food safety rules to be
  allowed to export

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ACCESS TO EUROPEAN MARKETS (continue)

• Egypt has 15 authorised establishments
• In Egypt the responsible Authority for
  authorisation is the General Organization for
  Export/Import Control in MoFT
• The EU provides Technical Assistance to meet food
  safety requirements
• For agriculture products, guidelines with import
  requirements are available (produced by the EU
  Commissions Food and Veterinary Office)
• Also HelpDesk for exporters of developing
  countries

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EXAMPLE POTATOES

• Egypts first exported agricultural product to
  the EU (235,000 tons last season)
• To export, Egypt must apply with the EU rules and
  requirements of the EFS policy
• Potato growers in Egypt are faced with the Brown
  Rot disease
• The EU is supporting the government to control
  this disease
• ...

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EXAMPLE POTATOES (continue)

• Exported potatoes should come from pest free
  areas and only five interceptions are allowed
• The monitoring system in place is not working
  properly (last season 14 interceptions in the EU)
• Safety net should be put up in Egypt but, in
  reality, are in the ports of entry into the EU

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EXAMPLE FISH

• Until January 1999, Egypt exported marine and
  aquaculture fisheries to the EU
• Due to new EU regulations Egypt was taken from
  the list of allowed countries
• With support of the EU several initiatives have
  been taken to comply with the new Directive
• As a result of the efforts made by the
  GOVS/MoALR, Egypt has been included again in the
  list of third countries
• At present, one establishment fulfils the
  criteria to export.

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TRADE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (TEP) A

• Five components of which one deals with the
  support to the General Organisation for Export
  and Import Control
• International Accreditation of three Food
  Laboratories (2 food testing labs in Alexandria
  and one calibration in Ain Sukhna)
• Training of Auditors for International Auditing
• Total Budget of TEP A 20 million 2 million
  for this component.

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USEFUL INFORMATION

• Europeans Commission Food and Veterinary Office
  Guidelines http//europa.eu.int/comm/food/fvo/pdf
  /guide_thirdcountries_en.pdf
• European Food Safety Authority www.efsa.eu.int
• EU Export Helpdesk for Developing Countries
• http//export-help.cec.eu.int
• EU Standards www.newapproach.org