PROGRESS REPORT. Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle. Management Board meeting , Budapest

Transcription

1 PROGRESS REPORT Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle Management Board meeting , Budapest

2 Risk Assessment & Scientific Assistance Panel on animal health and welfare (AHAW) 2 opinions adopted: - Bluetongue serotype 8 - Bluetongue monitoring and surveillance Panel on biological hazards (BIOHAZ) 6 opinions adopted: - 2 on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) - 3 on Food-born zoonoses - 1 on Food hygiene Panel on contaminants in the food chain (CONTAM) 3 opinions adopted: - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in food - Zearalenone in food - Smoked skin-on sheep (co-adoption with BIOHAZ Panel) 1 opinion endorsed on meat inspection (swine) 1 statement related to oral toxicity of endosulfan in fish 2

3 Risk Assessment & Scientific Assistance Panel on plant health (PLH) 2 opinions adopted on: - Monolinia fructicola - Agrilus planipennis 16th Scientific colloquium on emerging issues in plant health (9-10 June) Scientific assessment support (SAS) 8 internal reports in support to the Pesticides Unit and the AHAW, BIOHAZ, NDA, PLH and PPR Panels Dietary and chemical monitoring (DCM) 1 scientific report on monitoring of acrylamide levels in food 3 external reports related to Art.36 grants (transmission of chemical occurrence data) 4 internal reports in support to the GMO, CEF and CONTAM Panels Publication of: - Guidance for the use of comprehensive food consumption data - Report on a draft enhanced food classification system (Foodex) in the collection of comprehensive food consumption data 3

4 Risk Assessment & Scientific Assistance Biological monitoring (BIOMO) 2 scientific reports on: - EU summary report on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks in 2009 (in collaboration with ECDC) - Harmonised reporting specifications for food-borne outbreaks Publication of 3 manuals to support Member States in reporting 2010 data 4

5 EHEC Crisis Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli Shares virulence characteristics of STEC (animal reservoir) and EAEC (human reservoir) strains Same serotype, same phylogroup, same MLST type, and with similar virulence gene array, has caused human infections before ( and 5

6 Epidemic Since early May 2,447 cases with EHEC infection were reported to RKI, 59% female, 87% 20 years or older, 13 fatalities due to EHEC 781 cases of HUS were reported, 69% female, 88% 20 years or older, 22 fatalities in total, 3,228 persons diseased EHEC infection or HUS, 35 fatalities due to EHEC or HUS. Case reporting to RKI much lower during the last few days (Informationen zum EHEC/HUS Ausbruchsgeschehen, 13/06) 6

7 Organisations involved in the outbreak investigation Germany: Federal: 2 ministries health and consumer protection, each with 2 research institutes (RKI and BfR), with NRLs and the food risk managers (BVL) 16 Laender: have tracing, diagnostic and risk management responsibilities Task Force: experts from the Laender, the BVL, Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) joined forces to investigate the source Europe: European Commission, EURL, EFSA, ECDC. EFSA assistance was called 4 June p.m., present on site 5 June 9 a.m. 7

8 EFSA s role Support to the European Commission (EC) ECDC/EFSA advice published on the webs after an EC request (3 June) EC urgent request for a scientific report on STEC in vegetables including possible control/mitigation options (8 June) ECDC/EFSA report on monitoring of VTEC strains both in foods and from outbreaks (8 June) EFSA delegation supporting Germany in the outbreak investigation (5-16 June) 8

9 Source of the Infection Food vehicle: 1 st fresh vegetables: cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes 2 nd sprouts Origin of outbreak: sprout producer Origin of the introduction of E. coli in the site: personnel environment (water) seeds 9

10 Investigations Identify Food Type - Case-control studies RKI interviews 1 st indications: fresh vegetables i.e. cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes (RKI) 2 nd in-depth follow-up: sprouts (RKI) Find Location spreading infection - Tracing back (Task Force) Starting from 6 clusters Find Contaminated Vegetables originating from Location - Tracing Forward (Task Force) Sprouts (large area): 41 out of 42 clusters were linked Other fresh vegetables (local distribution) Process causing the infection at this source Personnel (RKI and State of Lower Saxony) - several infected Water or other environmental factors (BfR) Seeds - tracing forward (Task Force) find infected sprout species: fenugreek, alfalfa, adzuki, radish seeds (2 varieties), and lentil seeds are now considered most likely - tracing back (Task Force, Commission and other Member States): find other infected seed lots at other locations and find seed distributors & producer 10

11 Conclusions Major outbreak: What is key is : at European level coordination between risk assessors (ECDC, EFSA, ERL, EMA, JRC) and risk managers (EC, MS) in an outbreak investigation+ on communication international cooperation role of private business operators in storing and delivering tracing information to be kept in electronic databases 11

12 Scientific Evaluation of Regulated Products Panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food (ANS) 2 opinions adopted on: - Lutein - Glycerol esters of tall oil rosins In the coming months: - re-evaluation of food additives - assessment of new food additive applications - assessment of nutrient sources Panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids (CEF) 18 opinions adopted: - 7 on food contact materials - 10 on flavouring substances - 1 on criteria for safety evaluation of polyethylenterephthalat (PET) recycling processes Panel on additives and products or substances used in animal feed (FEEDAP) 14 opinions adopted on the authorisation of feed additives 3 guidance documents: - microbial biomasses for use in animal feed - coccidiostats and histomonostats (updated) - tolerance and efficacy studies (updated) 12

13 Scientific Evaluation of Regulated Products Panel on genetically modified organisms (GMO) 1 opinion on GM soybean 3 guidance documents: - selection of comparators - assessment of food and feed derived from GM plants - assessment of GM microorganisms and derived food/feed Stakeholder workshop on draft guidance for GM plant comparators (webcast available) Panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies (NDA) 78 opinions adopted: - 75 opinions covering 545 Article 13.1; two Article 13.5; and six Article 14 health claims (to be published in June) - 3 on novel foods 2 guidance documents: - general guidance for stakeholders on the evaluation of health claims - scientific requirements for health claims related to gut and immune function 13

14 Scientific Evaluation of Regulated Products Panel on protection products and their residues (PPR) and Pesticides (PRAS) 4 conclusions adopted in four active substances 24 reasoned opinions on 30 questions re. maximum residue level (MRL) 2 external reports: - emissions of pesticides from protected crop systems - establishment of a database on ecotoxicological properties 14

15 MP 2011 output targets - update Background: Mandates not received/ re-prioritisation in agreement with EC (ANS, GMO, PLH, Pesticides) Different grouping of outputs (DCM, FEEDAP) Need for additional data through public calls (ANS) 2011 OUTPUTS TOTAL IN MP REVISED TOTALS

16 Science Strategy and Coordination Scientific Committee (SC) Adopted guidance document on nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain Endorsed draft opinion on genotoxicity testing strategies (public consultation closed) Emerging risks (EMRISK) Publication of the annual report of the Network on emerging risks Internal mandate on procurement of collection of consumption data on energy drinks for specific subpopulations Advisory Forum and Scientific cooperation (AFSCO) Advisory Forum endorsed the planning of future strategic discussions and agreed on priorities for the Focal Points in 2011 Pre-Accession programme: 60 experts from the 8 beneficiary countries participated in a seminar on chemical contaminants and emerging risks Risk assessment training: technical specifications finalised. Training courses expected to be implemented through the European Commission s Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) programme 16

17 Scientific Expert Satisfaction Survey 2011 OBJECTIVES To map the scientific, administrative and communication support EFSA provides to its experts Perception of EFSA key values and experts motivation Number of questions: Experts invited: 1253 Experts invited: 1734 Completed Quest.: 733 Completed Quest.: 912 Response rate: 58.5% Response rate: 52.6% Number of questions: 26 Number of questions: 33 17

18 Satisfaction overall vs. specific Overall satisfaction Administrative support Scientific support Communication support

19 Key facts and figures 40% respondents employed by national government authority (53% in 2009 Survey) 82% respondents (very) satisfied with scientific impact of their work (72% regulatory impact) 94% willing to continue working with EFSA (same as 2009 survey). Main motivation : protecting public health Average estimate workload: 4 days / month Areas for improvement: quality of application dossiers; telemeeting tools; cooperation with MSs; visibility 19

20 EFSA in the news L'aspartame jugé sans danger par les experts de Bruxelles EU-Experten: EHEC-Vermeidung beginnt vor der Ernte Il falso cibo della salute stop alle etichette che ingannano i clienti Agencia alimentaria europea recomienda pelar y cocinar verduras mientras no se identifique origen de 'E.coli' FESTA DELL'EUROPA A PARMA, FAR CONOSCERE MEGLIO RUOLO EFSA EU: EFSA looks to boost efficiency La EFSA abre una consulta pública sobre su propuesta de Guía de evaluación de riesgo de bienestar animal Foodstuffs: EFSA adopts opinions on 442 health claims EU/FOOD SAFETY: Fall in number of human Salmonella cases Efsa kritisiert Acrylamidgehalt; Reduzierungsstrategie der Ernährungsindustrie nicht erfolgreich

21 Publications & Events New SC and Panel renewal call... Press release & Web announcement Net-work promotion Posters, postcards Focal point leverage etc. Presentations at events EFSA NL announcements Events engaging with the scientific community Stakeholder workshop on draft guidance for GM plant comparators 31 March International Conference on Animal Health Surveillance (ICAHS) May and with the local community Festa dell Europa 2-9 May > participants New corporate and scientific publications. Workplan 2011 Scientific Colloquium 15 Community Summary Report on antimicrobial resistance and new edition of newsletters EFSAnews EFSA in focus (Animals, Food, Plants) 21

22 Visits and meetings Visit of the delegation from the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) led by President Roberto Sabrido EFSA s ED visited the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and met with stakeholders Visit of DG SANCO delegation led by L. Miko, Deputy Director General. Dedicated sessions on GMOs,pesticides, health claims, new technologies, food packaging, flavourings and risk communication Visit of a delegation from the German Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Topics discussed: pesticides, GMOs, food packaging, chemicals, and risk communications 22

23 Resouces and Support At 31/05/2011 Budget execution: EFSA staff: % committed 27.7% paid e 3 : efsa, efficient & effective 23