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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Concordats set out agreed frameworks for co-operation between it and the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.
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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the agency of the European Union (EU) that provides independent scientific advice and communicates on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain. EFSA was established in February 2002, is based in Parma, Italy and had a budget for 2008 of €65.9 million.
The work of EFSA covers all matters with a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety, including animal health and welfare, plant protection and plant health and nutrition. EFSA supports the European Commission, the European Parliament and EU member states in taking effective and timely risk management decisions that ensure the protection of the health of European consumers and the safety of the food and feed chain. EFSA also communicates to the public in an open and transparent way on all matters within its remit.
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Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of the coccidiostat Aviax 5% (semduramicin sodium) when used in feed for chickens for fattening. In a previous assessment, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the taxonomical identification of the production strain at species level and on the absence of genetic determinants for antimicrobial resistance.
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the feed additive consisting of l‐arginine produced by fermentation using a non‐genetically modified strain of Corynebacterium glutamicum (CGMCC 20516). The additive is intended to be used in feed and water for drinking for all animal species and categories. The production strain was considered suitable for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to safety assessment.
The food enzyme glucose oxidase (β‐d‐glucose:oxygen 1‐oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.3.4) is produced with the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain AR‐352 by AB Enzymes GmbH. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme is free from viable cells of the production organism, but the absence of its recombinant DNA could not be established. The food enzyme is intended to be used in four food manufacturing processes, namely baking processes, cereal‐based processes, grain treatment for the production of starch and gluten fractions, and egg processing.
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of an extension of use for Yarrowia lipolytica yeast biomass as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The extension of use pertains to the use of the NF as a food ingredient in single meal replacement products for weight reduction for adults at a maximum amount of 6 g NF per day, which is the same amount of NF as already authorised in food supplements for this population group.
- Production of plant extracts
Different from an earlier call-for-data focusing on aqueous extracts from plant materials[1], this call considers plant extracts that are obtained with enzymatic treatments of plant materials and selectively extracted with solvents in order to obtain ingredients such as vanillin, carotenoids, etc. These extracts are used for a variety of purposes in food and beverage applications, including but not limited to colouring agents, flavouring enhancement.
Food products...
- Call for proposals and guide for applicants
- Annex 1: Draft Framework partnership agreement and Specific Agreement
- Annex 2: Application form
- Annex 3: Legal entity form (download template here)
- Annex 4: Financial identification form (download template here)
- Annex 5 & 6: Declaration on honour for exclusion and selection criteria
- Annex 7: Simplified financial statement (economic & financial capacity)
- Annex 8: EFSA Confidentiality form
An online Info session is being organised to enhance the clarity of the published Call for proposals and to facilitate cooperation among...
- Call for proposals and guide for applicants
- Annex 1: Draft grant agreement
- Annex 2: Application form
- Annex 3: Legal entity form (download template here)
- Annex 4: Financial identification form (download template here)
- Annex 5: Declaration on honour for exclusion criteria & selection criteria
- Annex 6: Simplified financial statement (economic & financial capacity)
- Annex 7: Institutional and Individual declarations of interests (download template here)
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products of Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the product containing endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase produced by Komagataella phaffii DSM 33574 (Xylamax) as a zootechnical additive in chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying/breeding, turkeys for fattening, turkeys reared for breeding and minor poultry species for fattening or raised to the point of lay. The production strain is genetically modified.
This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission.
EFSA is looking for organisations that can develop and deliver specialised training courses on specific aspects of chemical risk assessment, dietary exposure assessment, and related tools.
Scientists, trainers and other professionals in the fields of food safety risk assessment, dietary exposure assessment and/or training development are invited to submit offers. Successful tenderers will be helping to improve the knowledge and expertise of the EFSA scientific community.
Interested? You can find more information on the EU’s eTendering website.
The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach was developed to provide a regularly updated generic pre‐evaluation of the safety of microorganisms, intended for use in the food or feed chains, to support the work of EFSA's Scientific Panels. The QPS approach is based on an assessment of published data for each agent, with respect to its taxonomic identity, the body of relevant knowledge, safety concerns and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance.
Genetically modified (GM) soybean 40‐3‐2 expresses a 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase protein from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (CP4 EPSPS), which confers tolerance to glyphosate. This event was previously assessed by the GMO Panel as a single event and as part of a two‐event stack and was found to be as safe as its conventional counterparts and other appropriate comparators with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment.
The new‐born European Observatory of Wildlife (EOW)2 is a part of the EFSA‐funded ENETWILD project, and has the aim of improving the European capacities for monitoring wildlife populations, implementing international standards for data collection, providing guidance on wildlife density estimation, and finally, to promote collaborative, open data networks to develop wildlife monitoring.
DIRECTORATE-GENERALSANTE
Health and Food Safety
This Commission department is responsible for EU policy on food safety and health and for monitoring the implementation of related laws.
FICCI is the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India. Its history is closely interwoven with India’s struggle for independence, its industrialization, and its emergence as one of the most rapidly growing global economies.
A non-government, not-for-profit organisation, FICCI is the voice of India’s business and industry. From influencing policy to encouraging debate, engaging with policy makers and civil society, FICCI articulates the views and concerns of industry. It serves its members from the Indian private and public corporate sectors and multinational companies, drawing its strength from diverse regional chambers of commerce and industry across states, reaching out to over 2,50,000 companies.
FICCI provides a platform for networking and consensus building within and across sectors and is the first port of call for Indian industry, policy makers and the international business community.
Established in 2000 following several high-profile outbreaks of foodborne illness, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the independent government department working to protect public health and consumers’ wider interests in relation to food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Food Allergies
FSSAI sets globally benchmarked standards and practices; ensures consistent and transparent enforcement and credible food testing; facilitates hassle free food imports; improves compliance through training and capacity building of regulatory staff and food businesses, educates citizens by nudging social and behavioural change. FSSAI performs these functions through its several divisions.
Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) Online Database
The “Codex General Standard for Food Additives” (GSFA, Codex STAN 192-1995) sets forth the conditions under which permitted food additives may be used in all foods, whether or not they have previously been standardized by Codex. The Preamble of the GSFA contains additional information for interpreting the data. Users are encouraged to consult the Preamble when using this database.
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) is an international expert scientific committee that is administered jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
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FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
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FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.