Pre-Accession Study visit to the Croatian food safety authorities. European Food Safety Authority

Transcription

1 EVENT REPORT APPROVED: 3 February 2017 doi: /sp.efsa EN- Pre-Accession Study visit to the Croatian food safety authorities European Food Safety Authority Abstract This report summarises the programme and outcomes of the study visit to the Croatian food safety authorities in the framework of the EFSA Pre-Accession project , financed by the European Commission (EC) through Multi - beneficiary programme Preparatory measures for the participation of IPA beneficiaries in EU Agencies. The study visit was co-organised with the Croatian Food Agency, and included participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia coming from central offices of the Pre-Accession national food safety authorities. The main objective of the study visit was to exchange experiences on the structures and functioning of the food safety system in Croatia and to strengthen the existing food safety networks and partnerships in the region and identify opportunities for future collaborative projects. European Food Safety Authority, 2017 Key words: (Pre-Accession, Croatian food agency, Study visit) Question number: EFSA-Q Correspondence: any enquires related to this output should be addressed to afsco.enpa@efsa.europa.eu EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

2 Disclaimer: The views or positions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent in legal terms the official position of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear. Suggested citation: EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), Pre-Accession Study visit to the Croatian food safety authorities. EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-. 12 pp. ISSN: European Food Safety Authority, 2017 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 2 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

3 Table of contents Abstract... 1 Introduction and background... 4 Programme of the visit... 5 Participants and speakers... 6 Conclusions and recommendations... 7 Abbreviations... 8 Appendix A Programme... 9 Appendix B Satisfaction survey results EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

4 Introduction and background Study visit was organised under the EFSA Pre-Accession project , financed by the European Commission (EC) through Multi - beneficiary programme Preparatory measures for the participation of IPA beneficiaries in EU Agencies. The overall objective of the programme is to support preparatory measures with Pre-Accession countries in view of their future participation in EU Agencies before and upon membership. The support aims as well at knowledge transfer and capacity building in the area of expertise of the EU Agencies. Croatia became an EU Member State on 1 July Croatian food safety authorities had been benefiting from EFSA Pre-Accession capacity building tools and projects since The Croatian Food Agency (CFA), previously national coordinating institution of the EFSA Pre-Accession project, has become a fully integrated member of EFSA scientific cooperation networks and acts as EFSA Focal Point in Croatia. CFA performs scientific and technical tasks in the field of food and feed safety and is national reference point for risk assessment in food and feed safety area. In light of Croatia s experience as a candidate country and its involvement in EFSA s activities now as full EU member, on occasion of the EFSA s Executive Director visit to Croatia in October 2015, CFA was invited to take an active role in the new EFSA Pre-Accession project. CFA agreed to share its experience on various aspects of risk assessment and communication and data collection methodologies through different collaboration initiatives (trainings, projects, expert visits, etc.). This study visit has been organised with the aim: To further develop the knowledge and understanding of the EU Member State practices regarding the organisation and implementation of the national food safety system in accordance with the EU requirements, namely the Regulation (EC) No 178/2002; To present the structures and functioning of the food safety system in Croatia and division of responsibilities in the area of risk management, risk assessment and risk communication; To present Croatian practical experience on scientific cooperation with EFSA and EU Member States; To exchange experiences on data collection and reporting in order to ensure that the data collected in the Pre-Accession countries are relevant and easy to analyse at the European level; To strengthen the existing networks and partnerships and identify opportunities for future collaborative projects. 4 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

5 Programme of the visit The programme of the visit was designed in cooperation with the colleagues from CFA. The first day included presentations from different food organisations in Croatia (CFA, responsible Ministries and University) followed by discussions. Colleagues from CFA presented the role and task of the Agency within the national food safety system and engagement with EFSA through participation in EFSA s networks and various projects. Representatives from the Ministries gave an overview on their role in the system from the risk management perspective, while University representative s presentation focused on regional on-going projects, funded by the EU Cross-border cooperation programmes. The first day concluded with the session on Croatian experience with EFSA EU wide data collection and reporting with emphasis on the work and projects in Food consumption data collection area. Interactive discussion about various tools for collaboration and opportunities for food safety organisation from the Pre-Accession countries to participate in future joint EFSA/MSs specific joint projects also took place. On the second day, participants attended an international conference entitled Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too and arranged by the Croatian Food Agency (CFA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to mark the World Food Day. This international conference brought together about 200 representatives of the national and international scientific community, competent authorities, industry and consumers organizations focused on the impact of climate changes on agriculture and food safety and production. Speakers at the conference addressed the food safety issues related to climate changes of global but also regional concerns, such as the significant increase of the incidence of vector-borne diseases (e.g. Lumpy skin disease, African swine fever and Bluetongue disease). See Appendix A for the programme. 5 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

6 Participants and speakers The audience consisted of representatives from the competent food safety authorities and scientific institutions in the Pre-Accession countries. 15 participants from: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, attended the workshop with apologies received from representatives from Kosovo* 1 and Turkey. The speakers at the event were representatives from Croatian food safety authorities (Croatian Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health) and University and EFSA. 1 * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence. 6 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

7 Conclusions and recommendations The event provided significant contribution to promoting the practical implementation of risk analyses framework by different institutions in Croatia and gave a comprehensive picture on various areas and tools for collaboration between EFSA, Pre-Accession countries and Member States. The representative from EFSA introduced the participants with EFSA s Strategy 2020, that identifies cooperation as a key EFSA s value, and with EU risk assessment agenda (RAA) which contributes to the objectives of the Strategy by setting out common priorities with the Member States (and other partners) that can be addressed through specific joint projects planned and resourced through EFSA s working programmes, national programmes and/or through other means with transparent, coordinated and collaborative way. A number of Pre-accession food safety organisations that participate as observers in EFSA scientific networks and from 2017 will be included in EU Food Safety Almanac prepared by the BfR in Germany, could be potential partners for EFSA/MSs specific joint initiatives. EFSA s Pre-Accession project provides opportunity to promote these organisations and strengthen networking and collaboration between the Pre-Accession countries and Member States through various EFSA projects funded either through EFSA procurements or grants scheme. Answers provided in an on-line evaluation questionnaire after the event, underlined the previously identified needs for strengthening the regional cooperation and emphasised the importance of further training and support in the area of food safety risk assessment and data collection methodologies. Future inter-institutional exchange (particularly between scientific institutions) and transfer of experiences was highly valued among the participants. See Appendix B for the satisfaction survey results. The form of interaction and work process during the visit promoted active participation and contribution from all participants. The exchange was enabled through presentations, asking questions and sharing of experience with the hosting institutions. In summary, the study visit contributed towards achieving the envisaged objective to exchange experiences on the structures and functioning of the food safety system in Croatia and to strengthen the existing food safety networks and partnerships. Food safety areas and tools for collaboration between ESFA, CFA and the Pre-accession countries have been identified and agreed. After the study visit, CFA experts took part in various activities within the project, such as: Support to food safety authorities in Montenegro for the EFSA EU Menu project application and implementation; Support to the Pre-Accession countries (national task forces for data collection) in building capacity in methodologies for zoonoses, AMR and FBOs data collection and reporting to EFSA; Participation as speakers in EFSA/TAIEX events. 7 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

8 Abbreviations AMR Antimicrobial resistance BfR Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Germany) CFA Croatian Food Agency EC European Commission EFSA European Food Safety Authority EU European Union FBO Food-borne outbreak MS Member State of the European Union RAA Risk Assessment Agenda TAIEX Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission 8 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

9 Appendix A Programme 13 th October 2016 Chair Jelena Vračar Filipović, Officer, EFSA Time Item Welcome by the Director of Croatian Food Agency - Andrea Gross-Bošković Introduction and objectives of the study visit Jelena Vračar Filipović, Officer, EFSA Structures and functioning of the Croatian Food Safety System Andrea Gross-Bošković, Director, Croatian Food Agency (HAH) Coffee break Croatian Food Agency as EFSA Focal Point experiences of scientific cooperation and priorities, Sanja Miloš, Scientific officer, Croatian Food Agency (HAH) Organisation and case study on HAH risk communication Sara Mikrut Vunjak, Communication Officer, Croatian Food Agency (HAH) Risk Assessment Activities of the Croatian Food Agency in Andrea Gross-Bošković, Director, Croatian Food Agency (HAH) Cross-border cooperation projects and possible regional collaborative initiatives Zdenko Lončarić, Faculty of Agriculture, Osijek Lunch break Risk management; activities of the Ministry of Agriculture Zoran Rogić, Ministry of Agriculture Risk management; activities of the Ministry of Health Ana-Marija Crnić, Ministry of Health Coffee break Croatian experiences with the EU-wide data collection and reporting Darja Sokolić, Scientific officer, Croatian Food Agency (HAH) Case study: Food consumption data Darja Sokolić, Scientific officer, Croatian Food Agency (HAH) Q&A, concluding remarks of the 1 st day Documentary screening 10 BILLION WHAT S ON YOUR PLATE?, Urania Cinema, Osijek 9 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

10 20.00 Networking dinner, Restaurant Kod Ruže, Osijek 14 th October 2016 Time Item Participation at the World Food Day Conference - Climate is changing, Food and agriculture must too organised by the Croatian Food Agency in cooperation with FAO Lunch break Visit to the premises of a local wine factory processing plant Q&A, Conclusions and take-home messages 10 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

11 Appendix B Satisfaction survey results Quantitative evaluation (the results are displayed graphically below): 1. Technical performance 11 General view Ability to meet your expectation Ability to keep your interest at a high level 8 Ability to meet the stated aims and objectives Ability to improve your knowledge in risk analysis framework 11 9 Time reserved for presentations Good 11 EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-

12 2. Content and relevance to daily work Appropriateness of the presentations 10 Appropriateness of the documents used Appropriateness of the case studies/practical exercises 9 Was there a high degree of relevance to your everyday work? Yes Partly Qualitative evaluation: 3. Please indicate the main benefits you received from the training? Possibility to network and exchange ideas and work with colleagues from the region; Exchange of information on possible projects within EFSA remit; Possibility to network and discuss joint activities with colleagues from the Croatian food authorities; Improved knowledge in EU food safety system; New knowledge and ideas for the national food safety system improvement; 4. What additional topics within EFSA remit would you like to see addressed in the future? Communication on emerging risks; Food for particular nutritional purposes; Materials and articles in contact with food; 5. Please indicate your proposals on risk assessment and risk communication topics for Crossborder cooperation projects and possible regional collaborative initiatives: Exposure assessment to mycotoxins mixtures, especially in light of climate changes that affects the Balkan region; Promotion of joint initiatives where the Pre-accession food safety organisation can participate. 6. Do you have any other comments you would like to make about this training? Everything was great EFSA Supporting publication 2017: EN-