WRITTEN QUESTION E-1135/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
C 46 E/130 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 (2001/C 46 E/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1135/00 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 field of activities of the Authority covers the entire food chain, including both food safety and food- related matters. The Authority will be given its own budget in urgent cases and will maintain contacts with the scientific committees and the Commission (section 45 ff). Increasing the size of the scientific secretariat to support scientific advisory activities is needed to improved both the quality and the rapidity of scientific advice. A separate budget for ad hoc research will make for greater flexibility. Furthermore, the composition of the Authorityís staff is crucial. 1. What budget does the Commission propose for the Food Authority? 2. What are the criteria for the recruitment of staff? How many staff will the Food Authority have (at all levels)? (2001/C 46 E/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1136/00 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. Identifying and utilising information from within and outside the Community will be a key activity of the Authority (section 49 ff). Information is important in order to identify potential problems as soon as possible. The Authority will act as a watchdog with regard to emerging hazards. To what extent can the Authority advise the Commission on potential problems without involving 1. the scientific committees? Does not the existence of a twin-track system of advice ü the Food Authority and the scientific the Food Authority? If not, what guarantees does the 2. committees ü undermine the efficiency of Commission have that duplication of advice does not inhibit the effectiveness of the Authority? (2001/C 46 E/147) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1137/00 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