Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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EU Corporate Notification System, 21 October 2023
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Proposal: COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) amending Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the number and names of the Scientific Panels of the European Food Safety Authority A copy of the proposal is available on this site (click on image). |
The proposal has been scheduled for 'written consultation' by the Expert Group on General Food Law and Sustainability of Food Systems from 17 October to 31 October 2023. The following is the opening to the published proposal.
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Context of the Delegated Act
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 lays down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishes the European Food Safety Authority and lays down procedures in matters of food safety .
Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 sets up ten scientific panels responsible for providing the scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’), each within their own spheres of competence. Those panels include, among others, the Panel on food contact materials and enzymes and processing aids.
The second subparagraph of Article 28(4) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 empowers the Commission to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 57a of that Regulation amending the first subparagraph of Article 28(4) as regards the number and names of the Scientific Panels, in the light of technical and scientific development, at the Authority’s request.
Despite the adoption of a relatively high number of scientific opinions per year, the Panel on food contact materials and enzymes and processing aids faces difficulties in managing its workload.
On 1 August 2023, the Authority submitted a request to the Commission to split the Panel on food contact materials and enzymes and processing aids into two newly created Panels in order to address the existing stock of questions and expected increased workload, especially in the context of the Commission’s work on establishing the EU list of authorised food enzymes.
The creation of these two new Panels is expected to improve the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Authority’s scientific work in the respective areas. The work of the new panels would become targeted and dedicated to the fields of enzymes and food contact materials, supporting a more efficient distribution of workload and use of the available expertise. It would improve the capacity of the Authority to assess the stock of questions in support of the Commission’s work on establishing the EU list of authorised food enzymes, while continuing its work on food contact materials.
Therefore, this Delegated Regulation aims to amend Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 as regards the number and names of the Scientific Panels, in the light of technical and scientific development, at the Authority’s request. In particular, it will split the Panel on food contact materials and enzymes and processing aids into two newly created Panels named respectively "the Panel on food enzymes” and "the Panel on food contact materials, decontamination substances and extraction solvents".
The current term of office of the Panel on food contact materials and enzymes and processing aids will come to an end on 30 June 2024. The Authority is currently in the process of selecting the Panel experts for the 5-years term to start on 1 July 2024 and the two newly created Panels should be effective from that date.
