EFSA

EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, is an agency of the European Union responsible for providing independent scientific risk assessments and advice on food and feed safety, nutrition, animal health and welfare, plant health, and plant protection products. Established in 2002, EFSA conducts risk assessments to support EU policy-making and to inform the public and EU institutions about potential health hazards in the food chain.

EFSA operates by producing scientific opinions and risk assessments in collaboration with multidisciplinary panels and scientific experts. Its work covers hazard identification, exposure assessment, and the characterization of risks, along with scientific advice on risk management options. EFSA also engages in risk communication to explain uncertainties and to help inform policy decisions and public understanding. While it does not regulate policy itself, its independent assessments inform the European Commission, the European Parliament, and member state authorities.

Governance and structure include an Executive Director, a Management Board, and multiple scientific panels and units. Scientific advice is generated by experts drawn from member states and international partners, with rigorous procedures intended to maintain independence, transparency, and management of conflicts of interest. EFSA publishes its opinions, data, and methodologies to facilitate external scrutiny and open access to scientific findings.

Headquartered in Parma, Italy, EFSA serves the EU as a whole and collaborates with national authorities, European agencies, international organizations, and stakeholders. Its work supports EU-wide risk assessment in the food chain, contributes to the integrity of food safety policy, and aids in coordinating responses to emerging food-related risks.