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Science and Policymaking
Food safety agency says foodborne diseases on the rise in the EU
Est. 2minThe EU is experiencing more cases of listeriosis, salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis, which are diseases transmitted directly or indirectly from animals, according to a new report published today (17 December).
EU says cancer risk from popular weedkiller ‘unlikely’
Est. 2minThe EU's food safety agency on Thursday (12 November) said that one of the world's most popular weedkillers was "unlikely" to cause cancer, putting it at odds with findings by the UN.
France overturns ban on BPA in export products
Est. 3minA ruling by the French Constitutional Council has undermined the country's ban on Bisphenol A. France's highest court ruled that manufacturers can continue export products that contain the substance. EURACTIV France reports.
Pesticides pose risk to bees, EU watchdog says
Est. 3minWidely-used pesticides made by Bayer CropScience and Syngenta pose a risk to bees, the European Union's food safety watchdog said yesterday (26 August), reinforcing previous research that led to EU restrictions.
Food industry innovation increases challenges for risk assessment
Est. 4minWhile the European Commission wants the food industry to become more innovative and create jobs in Europe, the analysis of the risk factors also has to evolve, says the EU's food safety agency. EURACTIV reports from Expo Milano 2015.
Plastics industry raises pressure over BPA ban
Est. 3minThe French Council of State has questioned the constitutionality of the country’s ban on Bisphenol A in food packaging, following a request from the plastics industry. The chemical was outlawed in January this year. EURACTIV France reports.
Parliament makes ‘final offer’ on novel foods, cloning
Est. 2minEuropean Parliament negotiators have tabled what they described as their “final offer” on the EU’s proposed Novel Foods regulation, warning they will not compromise any further with EU member states.
Regulators urged to promote trust in Europe’s food chain
Est. 4minSPECIAL REPORT / As the agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to raise production, consumer trust in the safety of the food supply chain has been eroding, a European Commission official warned.
EU citizens should eat more insects, says industry
Est. 3minThe mealworm, silkworms, the housefly and the black soldier fly are some of the insects Europeans should have as a natural part of their diet in the future as they are a good source for protein, says the insects sector.
97% of pesticide levels in Europe’s food legal, says EU agency
Est. 4minA new report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has found that more than 97% of foods contain pesticide residue levels that fall within legal limits. Strawberries are the most likely to exceed safe limits, the agency found.
EU’s food safety agency gives green light to Bisphenol A
Est. 4minThe European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) re-evaluation of Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and toxicity states that BPA, an endocrine disruptor, poses no health risk to consumers of any age group at current exposure levels.
Scientists once again question the safety of aspartame
Est. 3minArtificial sweeteners found in diet soda and yoghurt, which are consumed by millions daily, can raise the blood sugar level instead of reducing it, according to a new study published by the scientific journal Nature.
‘Novel foods’ regulation returns to the EU’s agenda
Est. 4minThe European Commission and Parliament are renewing their attempt to update the EU's regulation on novel foods, which was rejected three years ago over ethical and safety concerns related to animal cloning for food production.
EU food agency says acrylamide is a health concern
Est. 2minThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says acrylamide in food potentially increases the risk of developing cancer for consumers in all age groups. The authority has launched a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion about the substance.
Paris and Brussels debate yoghurt and margarine
Est. 3minOn the eve of the European Council (27 June), yet another dispute has emerged between the EU and France. The French national food safety agency found nothing to prove that food containing high levels of phytosterol prevents heart disease, which contradicts European food safety regulation. EURACTIV France reports.
EU counters deadly US pig virus with stricter import rules
Est. 4minThe European Commission has approved new rules aimed at limiting the spread of a virus that has killed millions of piglets in the United States, highlighting the risk of animal feed products as a potential transmission agent.
Rampaging US pig virus spreads concern in Europe
Est. 5minThere are fears that a virus that has killed millions of piglets in North America and sent retail pork prices to record highs could reach Europe in the coming months, and little has been done to try to prevent its arrival.
Parliament rejects draft EU law allowing nanomaterials in food
Est. 3minThe European Parliament rejected on Wednesday (12 March) the European Commission's proposed definition of nanomaterials added to food products.
EFSA consults on hormone-affecting chemical Bisphenol A
Est. 2minThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has invited the public to make online comments about its draft assessment of the chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA), which is widely suspected by scientists of disrupting the hormone system.
EU food safety agency says aspartame poses no risk for consumers
Est. 3minAspartame, the artificial sweetener used in light food products and soft drinks, does not pose risks to the general population, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said on Tuesday (10 December). It urged the Commission to strengthen consumer confidence in the additive.
Food safety agency faces fresh accusation of industry ties
Est. 4minA recent report by the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and the independent journalist Stéphane Horel has accused the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of having major loopholes in its independence policy.
Commission backs EFSA’s definition of endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Est. 3minIn a letter to the anti-pesticides activist group PAN Europe, EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg backs the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) definition of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, saying it is in accordance with the international scientific consensus.
Food safety agency seeks to repair its risk assessor reputation
Est. 6minSPECIAL REPORT / More than a decade after it was established, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) still struggles to persuade consumers that it is a credible risk assessor working for the public good and not unduly influenced by corporate lobbyists.
Green NGOs hail ‘historic’ victory in pesticides vote
Est. 4minA majority of EU countries have supported a European Commission proposal to temporarily ban three pesticides suspected of harming bees in a vote on Monday (29 April).