Vol. 527 No. 3
96 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on the proposals announced by the EU Health and Consumer Commissioner for a European Food Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28438/00]
I very much welcome the proposal to establish a European Food Authority, EFA. The authority will provide the cohesion that will ensure a co-ordinated approach to food safety across the EU.
It is intended that the new authority will have the important function of communicating to the public, the best scientific information available on particular issues of food safety. Being a fully independent body, with specific responsibility for risk assessment, it can, I believe, become the catalyst for enhancing public confidence through informing consumer decisions in an open and transparent manner.
I am pleased to note that the authority is to concentrate on risk assessment – a factor that will not only enhance its independence and acceptability to consumers, but will ensure that the risk management function will remain rightfully with the democratically accountable Council-European Parliament and the European Commission.
