European Food Safety Authority

(previously known as the “European Food Authority”)

1 February 2002 - Regulation as published in Official Journal (pdf file)
21 January 2002 - European Food Safety Authority - legislation adopted
EFSA Web Site - Official Web Site of the new EFSA

This page provides links to a range of pages relevant to the development of the European Food Safety Authority.
The original proposals from the Commission had used the term “European Food Authority”. However, on the 11 December 2001, the Commission agreed to the European Parliament's demand for the word “Safety” to be included in the title.
See also the Commission's page on this topic at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/efa/index_en.html

The Proposals

White Paper on Food Safety - DOC/00/1 (COM(1999)719) Brussels, 12 January 2000 (pdf format file)
Commission adopts White Paper on Food Safety and sets out a “Farm to Table” legislative action programme Commission Press Release - Brussels, 12 January 2000
Legislative Proposal [COM(2000) 716 final, 08.11.2000] November 2000 (pdf format file)
Commission's Amended Proposal [COM(2001) 475 final, 07.08.2001] (pdf format file)

External Links

Commission - DG SANCO:
- Comments on the White Paper (as published by the Commission)
- Food Safety - Main page
European Parliament:
- Legislative Observatory - Summary of progress of the proposal - Updated regularly
- European Policy on Food Safety (STOA Report) - September 2000
- European Parliament resolution on the Commission White Paper on food safety (COM(1999) 719 - C5-0136/2000 - 2000/2082(COS)) - 25 October 2000
- Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy - Draft Report - 26 March 2001
  First Reading
- Opinions from other Committees for consideration by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy on 28 May 2001:
  - Committee on Budgets (22 March 2001)
  - Committee on Budgetary Control (16 May 2001)
  - Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market (21 April 2001)
  - Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (French version) (17 May 2001)
  - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (2 May 2001)
  - Committee on Fisheries (24 April 2001)
- Additional Proposed Amendments for consideration by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy on 28 May 2001 (7 May 2001)
- Report adopted by the Committee (adopted 29 May 2001; published 31 May 2001)
Common Position
- COMMON POSITION (EC) No 2/2002 adopted by the Council on 17 September2001 with a view to adopting Regulation (EC) No …/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of … laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (as published in the Official Journal, 7 January 2002)
European Parliament:
- Draft Recommendation for Second Reading (27 September 2001)
- Additional proposed amendments (Nos 20 - 49) (24 October 2001)
Commission's Comments following Second Reading:
- OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Authority, and laying down procedures in matters of food (Com Doc (2001) 821, published 10 January 2002)
UK Parliamentary Consideration:

Chronology of the Development of the EFSA (Internal Links)

2000

Programme of Work - Table listing the Commissions Proposed Work Programme
18 January 2000 Speech to European Parliament by Commissioner Byrne
14th April 2000 Address by David Byrne, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection to the Scientific Steering Committee on the White Paper on Food Safety, Brussels
May 2000 United Kingdom Government Response
24 May 2000 Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the “White Paper on Food Safety” - pdf file from OJ C204 18 July 2000
26 May 2000 Presidency Report on the White Paper on food safety - Progress report on work within the Council
13 June 2000 White paper on food safety / Precautionary Principle - General Affairs Council Meeting Minutes
19/20 June 2000 Presidency Conclusions - Santa Maria Da Feira European Council
26 June 2000 European Food Authority Must Not Be Mere Window Dressing - European Parliament discussions
11 October 2000 Towards a European Food Safety Authority
23 October 2000 Towards a European food safety authority
25 October 2000 Support for Food Safety Authority - Report on the Commission White Paper on food safety
25 October 2000 Remarks by David Byrne (European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection) at the conclusion of the debate on the White Paper on Food Safety - European Parliament, Strasbourg
8 November 2000 Food law from farm to table - Creating a European Food Authority
9 December 2000 Presidency Conclusions - Nice European Council meeting - 7, 8 and 9 December 2000

2001

16 January 2001 Proposed Council/EP Regulation Laying Down General Principles of Food Law and Establishing the European Food Authority (EFA)
21 February 2001 Proposed Council/EP Regulation Laying Down General Principles of Food Law and Establishing the European Food Authority (EFA)
12 March 2001 Council Meeting: Internal Market/Consumer Affairs/Tourism
24 March 2001 Stockholm European Council - 23 And 24 March 2001
28 March 2001 Proposed Council/EP Regulation Laying Down General Principles of Food Law and Establishing the European Food Authority (EFA)
30 March 2001 Food safety: the EU must focus on results and preventive measures, says European ESC
3 April 2001 Budgetary guidelines 2002 - Food Safety and CAP reform a priority
12 April 2001 Proposed Council/EP Regulation Laying Down General Principles of Food Law and Establishing the European Food Authority (EFA)
24 April 2001 2343rd Council meeting - AGRICULTURE
7 May 2001 Preparations for setting up the EFA Advisory Forum launched in Brussels
7 May 2001 David BYRNE, Opening address to the Interim Scientific Advisory Forum
7 May 2001 European Food Authority: Questions and answers (MEMO/01/163)
29 May 2001 FSA Letter - Proposed Council/EP Regulation Laying Down General Principles of Food Law and Establishing the European Food Authority (EFA)
29 May 2001 Environment Committee and Commission at odds over food law and EU Food Authority
30-31 May 2001 Council Minutes - 2351st Council meeting: Internal Market / Consumer Affairs / Tourism
8 June 2001 Food Authority Proposal Attracts 200 Amendments
12 June 2001 Support for Food Safety Authority
12 June 2001 Byrne welcomes adoption of European Parliament report on establishment of European Food Authority
15 June 2001 Göteborg European Council: Presidency Conclusions
28 June 2001 Political agreement in Council
23 August 2001 Letter from FSA relating to the political agreement
27 September 2001 Speech by David BYRNE to the Internal Market, Consumer Affairs, Tourism Council
14 November 2001 Preparation of the Health Council on 15 November 2001
22 November 2001 Strong backing from MEPs for “European Food Safety Authority”
11 December 2001 Strong backing from MEPs for “European Food Safety Authority”
11 December 2001 European Food Safety Authority - Prodi and Byrne welcome constructive EP position: Final agreement very close
15 December 2001 Presidency Conclusions European Council meeting in Laeken 14 and 15 December 2001
17 December 2001 UK Press Reports on the outcome of the European Council
17 December 2001 Next steps for European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

2002

21 January 2002 European Food Safety Authority adopted - Council agrees key legislation putting a new European-wide food safety system in place
21 January 2002 UK Food Standards Agency welcomes the adoption of European Food Safety Authority

This page was first established by David Jukes on 13 January 2000.