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Finland and Montenegro join network for improved food safety

34/2015, 09.11.2015

BfR signs cooperation agreements with sister authorities for food safety

In view of the ever-increasing global nature of the food trade, the job of ensuring food safety in the European Union is an ongoing challenge. This is why the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has signed new cooperation agreements with the Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MPR) in Montenegro. "Monitoring of product identity and the traceability of food products play a key role in the free exchange of goods within the EU," said BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel at the signing ceremonies for the agreements. "We want to work together to promote analytical standards for the identity and authenticity testing of foods on European level in order to protect the health of people in Europe even more effectively."

The focal point of cooperation is the analytical monitoring of product identity and the traceability of foods. The BfR is involved in the development, validation and assessment of analytical strategies and procedures for identity and authenticity testing. Alongside the procedures that are routinely used, the BfR develops and validates further innovative analysis strategies. These activities are to be expanded on European level together with Evira and the MPR.

A further focal point of the agreements is the coordination of work activities with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), paving the way for joint opinions in the field of food safety on European level, for example. The existing contacts between the authorities are further expanded by the new agreements. In addition, they are designed to promote regular communication and exchange of information, particularly in crisis situations.

The Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira) is a subordinate authority of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the central authority in the field of food and feed safety in Finland. Evira is responsible for scientific risk assessments and conducts scientific research projects on food safety.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MPR) is the central government authority in the field of food safety in Montenegro. The duties of the Ministry range from risk management through to scientific tasks in the field of food and feed safety.

The two new cooperation agreements further expand the international cooperation of BfR. The Institute has already signed multiple bilateral agreements on the exchange of scientific information in Europe - with its Danish, French and Austrian sister authorities, among others.

You can find an overview of all the cooperation agreements on the BfR website: http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/european_and_international_co_operations-10361.html

About the BfR

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientific institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. It advises the Federal Government and Federal Laender on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.

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