EU Member States

EU Member State scientific support is critical for the normal functioning of the EU food safety system.

• National food safety authorities give EFSA strategic advice on scientific issues and are the most important contributors of experts to EFSA.
• National bodies provide the essential data used in EFSA’s scientific assessments. Competent organisations in Member States carry out most of the scientific projects EFSA commissions.
• EU Member State public information services and communications experts work with EFSA to disseminate the results of EFSA’s assessments, promote engagement and attract scientific experts. These networks are particularly critical during food-related emergencies.

Advisory Forum: national food safety authorities

• EFSA’s Advisory Forum comprises representatives of the national food safety authorities of the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. Each national authority is responsible for risk assessment of the food chain at national level although the exact roles may vary by country.
• Observers from Switzerland and the EU Candidate Countries also attend Advisory Forum meetings.
• Through the Forum, EFSA and the Member States can join forces in addressing European risk assessment and risk communication issues. Members use the Forum to advise EFSA on scientific matters, its work programme and priorities, and to identify emerging risks as early as possible. Members aim to share scientific information, pool resources and co-ordinate work programmes with EFSA and each other,specifically on:
  • Exchange of scientific data
  • Coordinating risk communication activities and messages
  • Addressing contentious issues and diverging opinions
  • Coordinate work and avoid duplication

Advisory Forum “Declaration of Commitment”

The members of EFSA’s Advisory Forum signed a Declaration of Commitment at the forum’s 61st meeting on 28 September 2016 in Bratislava in which they agreed on a range of measures and activities that will ensure that EFSA and Advisory Forum members can together meet future challenges in the area of food safety and so protect European consumers.

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Advisory Forum members and observers

In addition to the Members of the Advisory Forum, the following countries participate as Observers:

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

Advisory Group on Data

The Advisory Group on Data (AGoD) is a discussion group of the EFSA Advisory Forum set up in 2021 to answer various challenges in the food safety data system. 

The group is composed of representatives of the Advisory Forum (on a voluntary basis), technical experts delegated by Advisory Forum members, EFSA staff and a representative of the European Commission. As of 2024 the participating countries are: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Focal Points: EU food safety connecting hubs

Vision of the Focal Points (FP) network: A fit-for-purpose and sustainable network of national FP working together with their national relevant actors and actors of the EU/EEA Member States and observer countries and in partnership with EFSA, to contribute to a resilient food safety system in Europe.

Mission: National FP act as connecting hubs between EFSA and their relevant national actors and actors of the EU/EEA Member States and observer countries. Within a changing and increasingly complex environment and to respond to the ambitions of the EU Green Deal, Focal Points address EFSA and national needs and priorities to contribute to a cohesive food safety system in Europe. In this regard, Focal Points use the opportunities brought by the Transparency Regulation in order to foster partnerships.

Established in 2008, the FP network comprises members from all 27 EU Member States (MS), Iceland and Norway, as well as observers from Switzerland and EU candidate countries.

The FP operate in the multiannual, flexible and tailor-made system that covers 5 areas:

1. Knowledge and information management and support to scientific production,
2. Engagement, collaboration and partnerships,
3. Capacity building,
4. Data,
5. Risk Communication.

FP also carry out a series of collaborative, networking and partnering activities, such as:

• supporting the AF in the practical implementation of activities related to networking and scientific cooperation
• sharing and disseminating information concerning food safety risk assessment
• supporting and advising regarding the cooperation of EFSA with institutions in the MS, particularly through the EFSA Scientific Networks and the List of National Competent Organisations (Art. 36)
• assisting in the exchange of scientific information and experts
• advising on cooperation activities and scientific project
• promoting training in risk assessment raising EFSA ’s scientific visibility and outreach in MS.

The FP meet three times a year, prior to the Advisory Forum meetings, in plenary meetings, and also in ad-hoc meetings throughout the year.

Focal points members and observers

In addition to the Members of the Focal Point network, the following countries participate as Observers:

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

Scientific networks

• EFSA coordinates several networks of nationally appointed EU Member State organisations with expertise in specific scientific fields (e.g. emerging risks, pesticide residue monitoring). Representatives of the European Commission and of other organisations, including from outside the EU, with specific expertise may be invited to join an EFSA network.
• The networks facilitate scientific cooperation by coordinating activities, exchanging information, developing and implementing joint projects, and exchanging expertise and best practices.