Focal Point in Germany
The EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority Focal Points are the contact points between the European Food Safety Authority (EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority) and the national food and feed safety authorities of the Member States of the European Union (EU). They were established in 2008 with the aim of coordinating scientific co-operation between EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority and the Member States.
The Focal Point Network comprises contact points in the 27 EU member states as well as Iceland and Norway. There are also observers in Switzerland and the EU candidate countries who are represented in the network.
The national focal point in Germany is located at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment). The Focal Point team at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment helps to coordinate the flow of information between EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority and the German Article 36 organisations. These organisations are named after Article 36 of EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority's founding regulation, which requires the networking of organisations working in areas within EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority's mission. The Article 36 organisations, also known as competent organisations, are therefore national bodies, universities, authorities or institutes of the EU Member States that are active in EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority's areas of work and support EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority in fulfilling its mission. There are currently over 300 of these organisations across Europe. They support EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority's work by, among other things, providing scientific opinions and technical and scientific support for carrying out risk assessment activities. They also help to collect data and identify emerging risks.
In addition to the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, six other organisations in Germany are currently part of the Article 36 network:
- External Link:Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (food and feed, consumer products, plant protection products, veterinary drugs, genetic engineering)
- External Link:Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (animal health)
- External Link:Julius Kühn-Institut (cultivated plants)
- External Link:Max Rubner-Institut (nutrition and food)
- External Link:Federal Environment Agency (environmental protection)
- External Link:Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (food safety, health, animal health, occupational health and safety and product safety)