Change in the Law on Food Risk Assessment

In accordance with the forthcoming changes in EU legislation, it is envisaged that the Risk Assessment Centre will be completely separated from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) and will come under the direct authority of the Minister as an independent structure.

At a meeting between representatives of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the scientific organizations in Bulgaria working in close cooperation with the RAC, it was announced that the Risk Assessment Centre, which is currently a unit of the BFSA, will become an independent structure directly subordinated to the Minister of Agriculture and Food. According to the new legislative amendments in the EU, which will impose greater transparency of scientific analysis, it is necessary for risk assessment to be independent and comprehensive within the overall process of the food chain.

“With the amendment to the Act on the Risk Assessment Centre (RAC), we have provided for an extension of the scope of scientific analysis in relation to the entire food chain. It includes not only animal and plant health care, but also all other elements related to food safety and human health. This complexity of the assessment is important for the adoption of management decisions by the competent authorities,” stated the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dr. Tsvetan Dimitrov, at the opening of the working meeting organized by the Risk Assessment Centre at the BFSA.

Source: MAF