Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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DG SANTE News Release, 17 February 2017
In its Health and Food Audits and Analysis programme for 2017, the Commission plans to conduct 212 audits and fact-finding missions in EU Member States and non-EU countries covering the areas of food safety, animal health and welfare, and plant health. A further 25 assessments will be implemented in the medical devices sector, as a joint initiative with Member States, EFTA and EEA countries' authorities. The objective of these measures is to ensure that EU legislation on food safety, animal health, animal welfare, plant health and certain areas of human health is properly implemented and enforced.
The Commission also aims to conduct a range of desk analyses to support its audit activities as well as a broad range of follow-up, networking and training activities.
The outcome of the audits carried out by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, and, in particular, its Directorate on Health and Food Audits and Analysis, will be made available to the public.
Specific audit topics will be summarised in overview reports, which serve as a basis for a discussion with Member States about identified common challenges and best practices to share. The programme also contains a summary of the audits performed in 2015.
Through this work, the Commission is able to retain its critical oversight of the operation of control systems, and to identify any areas for improvement. These measures allow the Commission to establish whether the legislation in these areas remains effective, and to be proactive in ensuring it is fit for purpose to minimise risks to food safety, public health, animal health and welfare, and plant health. As a result EU citizens enjoy a continued high level of safety, and that goods are traded under safe and fair conditions.
For more details including the full publication containing the programme, see the DG SANTE page: Work Programmes
