The welfare of adult rabbits kept in conventional cage systems is worse than that of those housed in other systems used in the EU, EFSA has concluded. The main welfare issue they experience is restricted movement. The findings are part of a comprehensive …
Nearly one in three foodborne outbreaks in the EU in 2018 were caused by Salmonella. This is one of the main findings of the annual report on trends and sources of zoonoses published today by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European …
EFSA has updated its risk assessment of five phthalates used in plastic food contact material. What are phthalates? Phthalates are chemicals used to soften (or ‘plasticise’) plastics used in a range of industrial and consumer products including plastic …
EFSA is seeking feedback from interested parties on its scientific opinion about public health risks related to the presence of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in food – a mycotoxin naturally produced by fungi such as the Penicillium and Aspergillus species. The …
Today is European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD). European Antibiotic Awareness Day takes place every year on 18 November to raise awareness of the threat to public health from antibiotic resistance and the importance of prudent use of antibiotics. …
EFSA is co-hosting with the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) a scientific conference on bee health focusing on the role of research in supporting risk assessment. The conference, which takes place in Paris …
EFSA has proposed measures to address the animal welfare hazards most commonly observed during the slaughter of poultry for food production and disease control. A comprehensive overview published today covers the entire slaughter process from arrival and …
Improved surveillance, communication and collaboration are key to controlling the spread of African swine fever in Europe, according to a new risk assessment carried out by EFSA. The assessment estimates the potential for the disease to spread across south …
EFSA is calling on outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers to help us track the movements of wild mammals. When you see a species we are looking for, simply take a photo and upload it to our platform with an easy-to-use free app called iMammalia. Wild …
“The whole EU territory is at risk from Xylella fastidiosa, and the more the scientific community works together on this issue, the quicker we’ll be to find solutions to tackle this pest.” That was how Claude Bragard, chair of EFSA’s Panel on Plant Health, …
The European Commission has launched a call today to develop a research and innovation platform on food safety. It will make it easier for national food safety authorities, EU agencies, policy-makers, the scientific community and civil society to …
What are priority pests? The 20 pests on the list published by the European Commission in October 2019 are quarantine pests that have been identified as top priorities for EU Member States based on the severity of the economic, social and environmental …
The European Commission has published a list of 20 “priority pests” that present the most serious economic, environmental and social threat to EU countries. The list includes Xylella fastidiosa, the Japanese beetle, the Asian long-horned beetle, citrus …
EFSA is launching a public consultation on the risks to public health related to the presence of aflatoxins in food. Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by two species of Aspergillus, a fungus found especially in areas with hot and humid climates. …
EFSA is carrying out a second stakeholder consultation in support of the review of its guidance on pesticides and bees. The dedicated stakeholder consultation group has been asked to comment on the protocol that EFSA will use to collect and evaluate data …
EFSA’s monthly round-up of plant health coverage in the media is now available on the EFSA Journal platform. The newsletter gathers together published articles and updates on plant pests that have been identified as potential threats to crops, forests and …
EFSA is carrying out a public consultation on its pilot assessments of the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food. Interested parties have until 15 November to submit comments on two assessments: one considers chronic effects on …
Why is EFSA working on cumulative risk assessment? Risks to consumers from the presence of pesticide residues in food are currently estimated substance by substance. However, a number of pesticides have similar effects and their impact on human health …
At what age is it safe for infants to start eating pureed and finger foods in addition to breastmilk or formula? We have just completed a comprehensive evaluation of the scientific evidence on this topic, covering infant health, nutritional needs and …
