Brussels, 04/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have agreed to increase cooperation in assessing food safety risks. A cooperation agreement was signed by the two agencies in Brussels on 2 July, formalising this decision.
“Food safety knows no national boundaries and the food chain is today truly a global one. We need to work with the best scientific minds from across the world and extend scientific co-operation to assess food safety risks and protect consumers even more,” said EFSA Executive Director Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle.
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., FDA commissioner added: “As a science-based and science-led agency, the FDA recognises that scientific cooperation is vital for the success of its mission, which is to provide the best possible health protection for the public”.
The cooperation and informal dialogue between EFSA and the FDA are of long standing. The cooperation agreement - the first signed by EFSA - will facilitate the sharing of confidential scientific and other information between EFSA and the FDA, such as methodologies to ensure that food is safe. This formal agreement will also ensure appropriate protection of such confidential information under the applicable legal frameworks in both the United States and the European Union.
EFSA intends to develop similar working arrangements with other authorities world-wide in the coming years. (an)