EU's safety body starts work
but despite the hype it still has no permanent headquarters and no
executive director.
The European Food Safety Authority finally started work this week, but despite the hype it still has no permanent headquarters and no executive director.
EU governments decided to set up the food watchdog after a series of health scares in recent years, including mad cow disease.
The new agency held its first managerial meeting to discuss how it will pick its new director, who will take control over the agency early next year.
EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, David Byrne, addressed the 15-member management board at the meeting, stressing the group's objective to provide quality, science-backed information on food safety.
Byrne also added that the aims would include the co-operation aspect of the food production chain.
"Many of the past food safety scares resulted from a fragmented approach to food safety ... The Authority will be an independent entity responsible for providing sound scientific advice," he said.
Much criticism has been aimed at the organisation of the Authority, focusing on its lack of cohesion and further allegations of nepotism. FoodProductionDaily.com's sister website, FoodNavigator.com, recently conducted an interview with Andy Stimpson, the appointed spokesman for the Authority, in which he responded to some of the criticisms.
In the interview, Stimpson also responded to accusations that the Food Safety Authority still had not appointed an executive director by pointing out that it was the newly appointed management board which will shortly be making the appointment.
For the time being the agency will have its headquarter in Brussels, that is until a permanent home can be found. In recent months, diplomatic tensions have been rising as Finland has battled to house the Authority in Helsinki and Italy has campaigned for Parma.
European leaders have a history of fierce fighting to secure the right to host EU agencies that bring prestige and jobs.
The agency's staff is estimated to number some 250 experts from across the EU. It will be able to trace foodstuffs from farm or factory to store counter, impose emergency measures in cases of health scares and order recalls of dubious food or animal feed.
