Byrne puts plan for EU authority to oversee food safety

The EU Health and Consumer Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, has announced plans for a European Food Authority (EFA) to oversee all aspects of food safety in the EU.

The proposal, which must be approved by the European Parliament and the 15 EU member-states meeting in the Council of Ministers, is the centrepiece of Mr Byrne's strategy to restore public confidence following successive food safety scandals.

"We have to regain public confidence in the capacity of the food industry and in public authorities to ensure that food is safe. The new food law provides the basic principles and requirements for the marketing of food and for the assurance of a safe food supply to consumers," he said.

It would also address the safety of animal feeds, particularly where these may have a direct or indirect effect on food safety.

"A well-resourced food authority underpins this approach with top-class, up-to-date scientific advice to consumers, industry, member-states, the Commission and the European Parliament," the Commissioner said.

The EFA will provide scientific opinions on every aspect of food safety; monitor food safety in the EU; identify emerging risks; and operate a revamped rapid alert system for food and animal feed. Scientific panels will monitor everything from food additives and GMOs to slimming products and food allergies.

The authority will be independent of other EU institutions, with a management board of representatives from the member-states, the Commission, the European Parliament, consumers and industry. But the Commission will remain responsible for taking action, such as imposing marketing bans.

Mr Byrne devised his proposal in consultation with the Enterprise Commissioner, Mr Erkki Liikanen, to ensure it did not conflict with the internal market's functioning. The proposal is clearly balanced in favour of the consumer, saying food should be considered unsafe if it is "potentially injurious to health". The onus is on food producers to ensure safety standards.

The decision to set up a scientific panel to investigate the possible hazards of GMOs will be greeted with dismay by US trade negotiators who are trying to open up the EU market to GM foods. But Mr Byrne says the EFA will not only help to protect health throughout the EU but will benefit food producers by restoring public confidence.

"Safety is the most important ingredient in our food," he said, and this package was designed to overcome the weaknesses of the past and put food safety firmly on top of the agenda.