Pre-Accession Study tour to the Irish Food Safety Authority 1, 2

Transcription

1 EFSA supporting publication 2013:EN-448 EVENT REPORT Pre-Accession Study tour to the Irish Food Safety Authority 1, 2 European Food Safety Authority European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy ABSTRACT The report from the Pre-Accession Study tour to the Irish Food Safety Authority is a part of the previewed reporting under the mandate from these Pre-Accession events, such as training, workshops, study tours and joined events with Pre-Accession countries. The previous reports are available on the EFSA website under enlargement events at: European Food Safety Authority, Question No EFSA-Q 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. The European Food Safety Authority assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear. Any enquiries related to this output should be addressed to AFSCO.ENPA@efsa.europa.eu Suggested citation: European Food Safety Authority, Pre-Accession Study Tour to the Irish Food Safety Authority. EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448, 8 pp. Available online: European Food Safety Authority, 2013

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents... 2 Background... 3 Programme... 3 Conclusions and recommendations... 4 Appendix A: Agenda... 5 Appendix B: List of participants... 7 Appendix C: Results from the satisfaction survey... 8 EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448 2

3 BACKGROUND The study tour was organised within the EFSA Pre-Accession Programme 2011/2014 for the Candidate and Potential Candidate countries 3 financed by the European Commission under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Component. Representatives from different institutions involved in the food safety system from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia took a part in the study tour. The overall objective of the EFSA Pre-Accession Programme 2011/2014 is to promote the understanding of EFSA s work, share expertise and create information exchange mechanisms in order to ensure that the national authorities of the beneficiary countries can participate effectively in the activities of EFSA both prior and after the accession to the EU. PROGRAMME The study tour was organised as a two-day exchange between experts from the Irish Food Safely Authority and experts from 3 Pre-Accession countries on food safety information and practical work at national level. Agenda and topics were prepared based on suggestions from the Pre-Accession countries, assessment of their needs and suggestions from the hosting institution. General information on the Food Safety System in Ireland was presented and responsibilities of each institution in the integrated system were explained. Participants were informed that the Irish Food Safety Authority has an overall responsibility on all 3 components of the risk analysis -assessment, management and communication. In particular following topics of interest for the three beneficiary countries were addressed: Multi- Annual National Control Plan and Annual Control Plan; Data Collection and Analysis activities; Data collection Strategy and EFSA Standard Sample Description; Communication activities in the times of crisis and the Irish Focal Point activities. The Pre-Accession team informed participants on the work and activities of the EFSA Pre-Accession Programme and available means for cooperation for the Pre-Accession countries within the Programme and EFSA. The study tour also included a visit to the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) where the organisation of FVO, their activities and tasks, were explained. See Annex A for the agenda. The participants in this study tour consisted of 12 representatives from the competent food safety authorities in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. See Annex B for the list of participants. 3 Acceding country: Croatia Candidate countries: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey Potential Candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo* (*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). EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448 3

4 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The study tour brought participants responsible for food safety policies together for two days intensive exchange of knowledge, experience and expertise. It was an excellent opportunity for the experts from the 3 beneficiary countries to meet experts and specialists from Ireland to learn about and discuss issues of common interest, establish contacts for future cooperation and take ideas with them back home. In particular, the study tour provided a comprehensive overview on the legal, regulatory and administrative aspects of the Irish Food Safety Authority and the other institutions involved in the Irish food safety system. Presentation of the Irish Food Safety System, where all 3 components of the risk analysis are in the same institution, gave participants additional knowledge on how to interpret requirements from Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 when setting up their national food safety systems. The importance of the EFSA for the Member States with a limited capacity for the risk assessment was highlighted. The participants gave very positive feedback on the study tour. See Annex C for the outcome of the satisfaction survey performed at the end of the visit. EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448 4

5 ANNEXES ANNEX A: AGENDA Tuesday 23 April Welcome and introduction at FSAI Offices - Boardroom Introduction of the pre-accession participants - Dorothy Guina Dornan, Chief Specialist Environmental Health Introduction to the FSAI and food safety systems in Ireland. The development and implementation of an integrated national food safety policy and strategy. Risk management, risk assessment and risk communication institutions and actors involved and their cooperation, communication with the stakeholders and protection of consumers. - Dorothy Guina Dornan, Chief Specialist Environmental Health Antimicrobial Resistance: Collection of data, monitoring, reporting on overuse or misuse of antibiotics and resistance on most common agents; Data linked to the emergence and spread of micro-organisms trough animals and food, which may compromise the effective treatment of infectious diseases in humans; Guides for preparing National Strategy on monitoring and decreasing antimicrobial resistance. - Donal O Mahony, Veterinary Officer - John Matthews, Chief Sp. Veterinary Public Health & Agriculture Campylobacter prevalence, monitoring and control in Irish broilers. Trichinella monitoring in Ireland. - Maeve Murray, Veterinary Officer Risk Assessment Allergens and GMOs - Pat O Mahony, Chief Specialist Food Technology Cooperation between the Irish authorities and EFSA, activities of the Irish Focal Point - Anne Marie Boland, Information Manager How risk assessment process is done in the Ireland. Food Consumption Database & Total Diet Study. Data collection, collation, analysis, interpretation and dissemination; importance of food consumption data in exposure assessment/risk assessment process. - Christina Tlustlos, Technical Executive, Chemical Safety Integrated Multi Annual National Control Plan & Annual Control Plan. - David Lyons, Service Contracts Manager How risk assessment is managed in Ireland. EU models for microbial risk assessment, food control and monitoring plans. - Dr Lisa O Connor, Chief Specialist Food Science FSAI Data Collection and Analysis - Eileen O Dea, Snr Technical Exec, Data Collection & Analysis Discussion/Questions Wednesday 24 April Presentation on FVO (organisation, activities, tasks...) and Q&A Session - Ms Izaskun EL BUSTO SAENZ Food-borne zoonoses: which monitoring is part of integrated approach to food safety from the farm to the fork? Collection of data, annual monitoring, reporting (Salmonella, Campylobacter or other micro-organisms) in food or animal populations - in aim to support prevent and reduce the EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448 5

6 impact of zoonoses in the food chain and protecting human health. - Dr Patricia Garvey, Health Protection Surveillance Centre Organization and implementation of annuals and multiannual national programmes of Monitoring of Plant Protection Products residue in food and feed - David Mc Gilloway, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine Crisis Management and Contingency Plans - Raymond Ellard, Director Consumer Protection Communicating in Times of Crisis - Jane Ryder, Press & PR Officer Risk management (legislative measures, targets for reduction). Risk based control activity. Food Incidents/GN 1 & RASFF. - Dorothy Guina Dornan, Chief Specialist Environmental Health Question & Answer Session EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448 6

7 ANNEX B: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Country Title Surname Name Institution BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Mr HAJRIĆ Džemil Food Safety Agency BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Ms AHMETOVIĆ Nihada Food Safety Agency BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Mr MAČKIĆ Sejad Food Safety Agency BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Mr ĐERIĆ Zoran Food Safety Agency MONTENEGRO Ms ORBAN Višnja Inspection Administration MONTENEGRO Ms MILOVANOVIĆ Ljiljana Veterinary Administration MONTENEGRO Ms PRLJEVIĆ Zorka Phitosanitary Administration MONTENEGRO Ms MILOVIĆ Nina Ministry of Health SERBIA Ms SAVČIĆ PETRIĆ Snežana Ministry of agriculture, forestry and water management, Plant protection directorate SERBIA Ms DAVIDOVIĆ Milanka SERBIA Mr VUJOVIĆ Nenad SERBIA Ms MIJATOVIĆ Svetlana Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Department of Agricultural Inspection Ministry of Health, Sector for Inspection, Department for Sanitary inspection EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448 7

8 ANNEX C: RESULTS FROM THE SATISFACTION SURVEY On the last day of the study tour, participants were asked to take a part in satisfaction survey, in order to evaluate the study tour. They were also asked to give their additional comments, remarks and suggestion on future topics for EFSA Pre-Accession Programme. 11 participants answered to the evaluation questionnaire. The survey results show that all participants found the overall value of the study tour to be excellent or very good (see Table 1). The participant s comments and suggestion on future topics for EFSA Pre-Accession Programme were to organise specific trainings on: Risk Assessment (Microbiological, Chemical); Risk communication; Food Consumption Data Collection; Crisis management and detail preparation of the Multi-Annual National Control Plan. Montenegrin participants stated that the study tour was organised at the right moment as the national system is under reorganisation. Table 1: Satisfaction survey results Question / Rating Excellent (%) Very good (%) Good (%) Fair (%) Poor (%) Meeting venue and materials Hotel and meeting room Written material not applicable The speakers and their presentations Presentation skills Responsiveness to questions Content Audio-visual aid 100 How did this study tour improve your knowledge on this topic? How was the overall value of study tour for you? Were the speeches on the right level? (%) too technical? (%) Did you feel you had enough opportunities to express your opinion? too basic? (%) Yes (%) Partly (%) No (%) 100 EFSA supporting publication 2013: EN-448 8