WRITTEN QUESTION E-1124/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
Date: 2000-04-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Food Safety Authority, interinstitutional relations (EU), operation of the Institutions

C 46 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

(2001/C 46 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1124/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is
concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food
safety.

Large quantities of information are gathered on food safety, but often it is not properly collated or
analysed. The (daily) risk analysis therefore needs to be improved in order to facilitate a prompt response
to potential risks (sections 16 and 17).

What procedural and practical forms will cooperation between the EFA and the Commission take in order
to satisfy the high requirements of the (daily) risk analysis in order to facilitate a prompt response to
potential risks?

(2001/C 46 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1126/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is
concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food
safety.

The existing Scientific Committees have a fairly heavy work load and they have drawn attention to the
time required for their advisory activities (section 22 ff.). The Food Authority will have to take account of
this problem. Recruiting sufficiently well-qualified staff to the Authority can help enhance and speed up
the process of providing scientific advice.

How will the Commission bridge the period pending the creation, and commencement of activities,

1.
of the Authority?

How will the Commission handle the division of labour between the staff of the Authority and the

2.
advisory committees?

(2001/C 46 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1129/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is
concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food
safety.

The White Paper gives three reasons why risk management is not included in the Authority(cid:146)s mandate
(section 33). For example, the EU Treaty says that the control function and legislative powers are the
responsibility of the Commission.

Is the Commission prepared to put the question of the control function and delegated legislation for the
EFA on the agenda of the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference so that solutions for the longer term
can be considered? If not, does the Commission not feel it necessary for the EFA to eventually acquire a
control function and the power of delegated legislation?