New system of food safety in the European Union and the Czech Republic

The revision of the existing and the adoption of new legislation as well as the establishment of the independent European Food Safety Authority has become the main tool of the food safety policy of the European Commission. The food safety issue represents the system throughout the whole food chain from farm to table based on risk analysis. The risk analysis consists of three interconnected elements - risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. The basic requirements obligatory for the EU countries were set in the Regulation No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food law. The Czech Government adopted the resolution No.1320/2001 concerning food safety strategy and acknowledged that food safety is one of the main priorities of the Government with regard to the accession of the Czech Republic to the EU. The Czech Government adopted organizational safeguarding of the strategy. An interdepartmental coordination team working as an advisory and initiative body of the Minister of Agriculture plays the key role in this field. Establishment of scientific boards and their activities will support the decision-making of the ministries and control bodies, and will serve as a basis for the risk communication. The boards will also cooperate with scientific panels of the European Food Safety Authority.