Filip Cnudde

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FP6 Integrated Project SAFE FOODS

• Filip Cnudde
• EuroMicroDay 2004, Sep12, Portoro

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Broad public concern about the safety of the
European food supply
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• Low public trust in how food crises were handled
• Low trust in the Regulatory System in Europe

Illustration Union of Concerned Scientists
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Commission Wakes Up

• General Food Law
• EC Regulation 178/2002
• Framework for legislation
• Precautionary principle
• Traceability
• Transparency
• EU White Paper on Food Safety
• Establishment of the European Food Safety
  Authority (EFSA) in 2002

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Traditional approach to Risk Analysis
Risk Assessment
Risk Communication
Risk Management
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Towards A New Risk Analysis Framework

• Risk Assessment
• Hazard identification
• Hazard characterization
• Exposure assessment
• Risk characterization

• Risk Management
• Assess policy alternatives
• Select and implement appropriate options

Increased transparency increased
credibility? Incorporation of societal values
to create an integrated framework
Risk Communication and Stakeholder Involvement
Interactive exchange of information and
opinions
(after WHO, 1998)
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SAFE FOODS

• Promoting Food Safety through a New Integrated
  Risk Analysis Approach for Foods
• Integrated Project
• Four years
• Kick-off meeting in May 2004
• How can consumer confidence in consumer
  protection and risk analysis be restored?

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SAFE FOODS
European Food Safety Network (EFSN) RIKILT /
RIVM 29 government-related research
institutes from 21 EU countries (including 7
pre-accession countries)

• European Thematic Network on Safety Assessment of
  Genetically Modified Food Crops
• Dr. H.A. Kuiper
• RIKILT, the Netherlands
• 65 Participants from 13 EU countries
• 5 RTD projects
• 4 Working Groups on Safety Evaluation and
  Assessment
• Project duration 01-01-2000 to 01-01-2003

Promoting Food Safety through a New Integrated
Risk Analysis Approach for Foods (SAFE FOODS)
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Overview SAFE FOODS

• Coordinators
• Dr. H.A. Kuiper
• Dr. H.J.P. Marvin
• Budget
• 14.5 million Euros
• EU contribution
• 11.4 million Euros
• Cooperation
• 32 partners
• 17 countries

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Overview SAFE FOODS

• Workpackages
• WP1
• Comparative Safety Evaluation of Breeding
  Approaches and Production Practices Deploying
  High- and Low- Input Systems
• Profiling methods (metabolomics, proteomics,
  transcriptomics)
• Conventional, organic, biotech
• RIKILT (NL), SCRI (GB), TUM (D), UKU (FIN), IHAR
  (PL), ISS (IT), CSIR (SA), BiOSS (GB), ICGR (CHN)

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Overview SAFE FOODS

• Workpackages
• WP2
• Early Detection of Emerging Risks Associated with
  Food and Feed Production
• Transfer point
• Identification of emerging pathogens and chemical
  risks
• NFC (IRL), UNICATT (I), RIKILT (NL), LFC (LAT),
  CFRI (HU), RIVM (NL), BfR (D)

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Overview SAFE FOODS

• Workpackages
• WP3
• Quantitative Risk Assessment of Combined Exposure
  to Food Contaminants and Natural Toxins
• Probabilistic modeling
• Combined exposure
• Pan-European, comparison with China
• RIKILT (NL), RIVM (NL), BAG (CH), NFA (SE), ISS
  (I), NINFS (CHN), DFVF (DK), NIPH (CZ), IRAS (NL)

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Overview SAFE FOODS

• Workpackages
• WP4
• Consumer Confidence in Risk Analysis Practices
  regarding Novel and Conventional Foods
• Perceptions, attitudes, beliefs about risk
  analysis and management
• Risk communication
• Effectiveness of new risk analysis framework
• Nutritional and labeling
• WU (NL), IFR (UK), KVL (DK), DIALOGIK (D), AUA
  (GR), UM (NL)

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Overview SAFE FOODS

• Workpackages
• WP5
• Investigation of the Institutional Challenges and
  Solutions to Systemic Risk Management
• Institutional structures and procedures
• Changes to incorporate new practices
• Public involvement in risk analysis
• DIALOGIK (D), UoS (UK), UM (NL), UGOT (SE), KCL
  (UK), ISB (HU)

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Overview SAFE FOODS

• Workpackages
• WP6
• Integrated Risk Analysis Approach for Foods
• Integration of outcomes of the workpackages
• Formulation of new risk analysis approach
• Recommendations, e.g. for integration of public
  participation
• RIKILT (NL), SCRI (UK), NFC (IRL), NFA (SE), WU
  (NL), DIALOGIK (D), CEIS (I), DFVF (DK)

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SAFE FOODS
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What is New in this IP?Challenges

• Large scale
• Multidisciplinary character
• Natural and social sciences together
• Integration of projects or no added value
• Integrated project and financial
• management

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SAFE FOODS

• Characteristics of the New Risk Analysis Model
• Integration of assessment of human health aspects
  of foods with consumer preferences and values.
• Active consumer participation in the various
  stages of the risk analysis process.
• Improved functional and structural risk
  management procedures.
• Improved risk communication with consumers
  throughout the process of risk analysis.
• Pan European applicability.

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Conclusions

• SAFE FOODS aims at improving the integration of-
  and interaction between- the components of risk
  analysis
• This also fits into the EU-policy framework of
  strengthening confidence in food safety

Illustration ECOD-BIO
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www.safefoods.nl