EU food safety stays with politicians


14 December 1999



EU food safety stays with politicians


DECISIONS about food safety in Europe will continue to stay in the hands of politicians rather than experts under European Commission plans for a European Union (EU) food safety agency.

David Byrne, consumer protection commissioner, said this week the planned independent authority would only have an advisory role centred on risk assessment by scientists.

He insisted that the management of risk and lawmaking had to be undertaken by those who are “accountable to the people”.

Mr Byrne was speaking at the Commissions publication of a report by three leading EU scientists calling for the creation of European food and public health authority.

See more