FOOD SAFETY: EUROPEAN AUTHORITY URGES BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY

摘要

Independence, transparency, and communicating precise information are the three themes that came up for consideration during a recent debate between Geoffrey Podger, the head of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Section of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). In a statement he made to the Committee members, Geoffrey Podger stressed that his institution is completely independent from the European Commission. Consequently, itcan be quite open about publicising its policy positions and facilitating independent relations with relevant organisations such as the EESC. According to the EFSA Executive Director, it is vital to encourage all the relevant stakeholders, the food industry, consumers and other key players to participate in policy debate. This implies that the EFSA should be a body that is authentically open to civil society.