Co-operation in Risk Communications: Meeting information needs of European consumers Anne Laure Gassin Director of Communications Joining forces for safer food in Europe: the EU food safety system Lisbon 19 September 2007
Why do we need Risk Communications? Lisbon, 19 September 2007 2
Risk Communications: overall aim Provide people with information about risk so that they can make informed decisions about whether different potential hazards are acceptable, or whether to take a particular course of action to mitigate risk. Lisbon, 19 September 2007 3
Risk Communications: a continuum Risk Analysis Framework Risk Assessment *Science based Risk Management *Policy based Risk Communication *Interactive exchange of information and opinions concerning risks Source: WHO/FAO 1997 Lisbon, 19 September 2007 4
What does the public see as a risk? The risks that kill you are not necessarily the risks that anger and frighten you. Peter M. Sandman Lisbon, 19 September 2007 5
Different risk approaches EXPERTS PUBLIC - Rely on risk assessment (counting & calculation) - Objective and general - Analytical argumentation - Balance risk against benefits - Rely on perception of risks (good or bad feelings) - Asks: "What does it mean for me?" - Wants answers on concerns - Balances risk against dread and outrage Lisbon, 19 September 2007 6
Risk perceptions: Top Concerns Question: For each of the following issues, please tell me if you are very worried, fairly worried, not very worried or not at all worried by it? Answers: WORRIED PESTICIDES: Greece, Italy, Hungary, France, Portugal, Slovenia, Germany, Spain, Finland CONTAMINATION BY BACTERIA: Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovakia NEW VIRUSES LIKE AVIAN INFLUENZA: Malta, Latvia, The Netherlands POLLUTANTS LIKE MERCURY OR DIOXINS: Belgium GMOs: Austria RESIDUES IN MEAT: Cyprus, Greece, Belgium FOOD HYGIENE OUTSIDE HOME: Poland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Spain ADDITIVES: Lithuania, Estonia WELFARE OF FARMED ANIMALS: Denmark, Sweden Lisbon, 19 September 2007 7
Risk perceptions: Food-related risks Ranking of concerns (prompted) worry index EU PESTICIDES RESIDUES (63%) NEW VIRUSES (eg. AVIAN INFLUENZA) RESIDUES IN MEAT 62% FOOD HYGIENE OUTSIDE HOME CONTAMINATION BY BACTERIA POLLUTANTS (MERCURY, DIOXINS ) GMOs (58%) ADDITIVES (COLOURS, ) WELFARE OF FARMED ANIMALS (55%) BSE (53%) CHEMICALS FORMED IN HEATING FOODS PUT ON WEIGHT FOOD ALLERGENS FOOD HYGIENE AT HOME PORTUGAL PESTICIDES RESIDUES WELFARE OF FARMED ANIMALS 66% NEW VIRUSES (eg. AVIAN INFLUENZA) FOOD HYGIENE OUTSIDE HOME RESIDUES IN MEAT CONTAMINATION BY BACTERIA POLLUTANTS (MERCURY, DIOXINS ) ADDITIVES (COLOURS, ) CHEMICALS FORMED IN HEATING FOODS GMOs (50%) BSE (50%) PUT ON WEIGHT FOOD ALLERGENS FOOD HYGIENE AT HOME Lisbon, 19 September 2007 8
Who do consumers trust? (EU average) Question: Suppose a serious food risk were found in fish or chicken. Who would you trust the most to inform you about this risk? Consumer groups 32% Your physician\doctor 32% Scientists 30% Public authorities 22% Media 17% Food manufacturers 6% Farmers 6% Supermarkets or shops 3% Other (SPONTANEOUS) 1% None (SPONTANEOUS) 5% DK 2% Lisbon, 19 September 2007 9
Public authorities action Food-related actions Question: For each of the following statements, would you say that you totally agree, tend to agree, tend to disagree, totally disagree? AGREE DISAGREE DK Public authorities take into account most recent scientific evidence when they take decisions related to food risks EU PT 58% 66% 26% 16% 16% 18% Public authorities in the EU do a good job in informing people about risks related to food EU PT 49% 68% 38% 18% 12% 14% Lisbon, 19 September 2007 10
Food safety in the news: consumer impact? Question: Please tell me how you reacted to the last story you heard about a type of food being unsafe or bad for your health. 19% 3% 2% 16% 23% 37% You have permanently changed your eating habits You avoided the food mentioned in the story only for a while You got worried about the problem but finally you did nothing about it You have ignored the story Other DK Lisbon, 19 September 2007 11
Risk Communications Purpose: Provide appropriate, consistent, accurate and timely communications on food safety issues, to all stakeholders and the public at large, based on the Authority s risk assessments and scientific expertise. Lisbon, 19 September 2007 12
Who does EFSA communicate to? Policy Makers (EU & Beyond) Stakeholders (Scientists/ Academics) Risk Assessors (e.g. AF) Risk Managers (EC, EP, MS) Media (Food, Health, EU Affairs) Stakeholders (Environment, Consumer,Health NGOs, Industry) Concerned Individuals Lisbon, 19 September 2007 13
Co-operation & Coherence ADVISORY FORUM WG ON COMMUNICATIONS Key facilitator for "promoting coherence in communications" Established in November 2003 Strong network of all communications units joining EFSA, Member States and Commission Objectives: Develop co-operation/co-ordination of risk communications; exchange information/experiences; evaluate efforts; develop best practices Lisbon, 19 September 2007 14
Co-operation & coherence in Communications BSE: Risco de consumo de caprinos é reduzido AESA ve poco riesgo EEB en consumo carne cabra de menos de 4 años. Risico op gekke geiten miniem Les experts européens rassurants sur les risques de "chèvre folle" EU/Lebensmittel/Rinderwahnsinn/ EU- Lebensmittelbehörde sieht keine Gefahr durch BSE bei Ziegen Low BSE risk in goat meat confirm scientists Lisbon, 19 September 2007 15
EFSA Public announcements: recent headlines in the EU press Food colour Red 2G may cause cancer: EU agency EU-Lebensmittelbehörde für strenge Pestizidgrenzwerte Lisbon, 19 September 2007 16
Media Coverage Lisbon, 19 September 2007 17
New website online Launched September 4 Simpler navigation Topic and output-driven content More user-friendly written content Mini-searches on EFSA documents: opinions, guidance, statements, calls for consultation Declarations of interest for panel & working groups searchable by name or group Cross-linking throughout the site using the right-hand column linking feature Lisbon, 19 September 2007 18
Events: EFSA 5 Year Anniversary To celebrate its 5 Year Anniversary, EFSA organises a programme of events in 2007 that will present EFSA s work to decision-makers, stakeholders and the general public. Week in Brussels (Nov.) Week in Parma (October) Joint events with MS and institutional partners throughout the year Lisbon, 19 September 2007 19
Events: Co-operation with Member States EFSA/UK FSA: Joint workshop on food incident prevention and horizon scanning to identify emerging risks London, 5-6 March 2007 EFSA/Italian Ministry of Health: EFSA and food safety in the EU: achievements and challenges, Rome 7 June 2007 EFSA/Ministry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic: Committed to the safety of Europe s food, Bratislava, 28 June EFSA/Romanian National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority: Working together towards safer food in Europe Bucharest, 10 September 2007 EFSA/Spanish Food Safety Agency: Encuentro de seguridad alimentaria y nutrición, Santander, 13 September 2007 EFSA/Portuguese Economy and Food Safety Standard Authority, Lisbon, 19 September 2007 Lisbon, 19 September 2007 20
Meeting consumer information needs EFSA aims to deliver: the best science at the right time in the most appropriate manner. This goal can only be achieved through effective co-operation in risk communications. Partnership with Member States is key! Lisbon, 19 September 2007 21
Joining forces for safer food in Europe: the EU food safety system Lisbon, 19 th September 2007