EFSA News Story, 18 June 2009
The European Food Safety Authority's Management Board has given its backing to proposals to boost risk assessment capacity and expertise in Europe for the benefit of both national and European risk assessment activities. A more strategic, longer term view on future joint cooperation initiatives will allow better leverage and strengthening of expertise in Member States for the benefit of the EU food safety system. The Board also reviewed the activities of the Stakeholder Consultative Platform and approved its renewal for the next three years.
In line with its Strategic Plan for 2009-2013, EFSA aims to further develop cooperation with national food safety agencies and other national scientific organisations. Longer term planning was seen as an important way to enable Member States to participate more actively in EFSA's work.
Board members encouraged the further development of these initiatives with the Scientific Committee and the Advisory Forum and to keep the Management Board updated on progress made.
Stakeholder Consultative Platform
Board members also endorsed the positive review of EFSA's Stakeholder Consultative Platform, which highlighted the valuable contribution of the Platform to many general issues related to the work of the Authority. Suggestions to enhance the work of the Platform included: the definition of an annual work programme; the greater use of working groups, special hearings and technical meetings to address specific projects and themes; and promoting greater interactivity to share information and feedback on issues of common interest.
The Platform comprises 24 European stakeholder organisations working in areas related to the food chain, representing consumers, food and feed operators, food industry, food trade and NGOs.