Post on 11-Jan-2016
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC)2000 - 2011
International Affairs - Léonard BOSSCHAERT
Federal Agency
for the Safety
of the Food Chain
22-11-2011
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain
European Context
• Food Safety White Book (2000)
• General Food Law [Reg. (EC) N° 178/2002]• First responsibility = operator• Establishment of the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA)
• New Regulations• Hygiene Package (2004) in force on 01/01/2006• Official Food and Feed Control Regulation [Reg. (EC)
N° 882/2004]• New standards
22-11-2011
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Gen.Food Law = Reg. (EC) N° 178/2002
ART. 17 : RESPONSIBILITIES
FVOFood and Veterinary
Office
PUBLIC AUTHORITY
(FASFC)
OPERATORS
Official control & enforcement
Communication
Self-checking
Monitor(COM EU)
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Belgian context
• Modernisation of civil service• New food safety policy in BE based on EU
policy:– Emphasis on safety of the entire food chain– Consumer should occupy a central position– Political responsability clearly defined : the
[Minister of Public Health]/Agriculture = only one Minister has the final responsibility
• Establishment of the FASFC and of the FPS
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain
New Belgian food safety policy
• Merger of 6 control services of the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Health
• FASFC
• Merger of responsibilities related to product standards
• FPS (=Federal Public Service) Public Health, Safety of the Food Chain and Environment
• Operational standards• FASFC
• Clear division within the FASFC between control policy and control activities (2 DG of the FASFC)
• Independent risk assessment (Scientific Committee of the FASFC)
22-11-2011
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
AGRICULTURE
PUBLIC HEALTH
RAWMATERIALS
PLANTPRODUCTS
VETERINARY SERVICES
ANIMALPRODUCTS
FOODSTUFFINSPECTION
Merger of 6 control services
FASFC
FPS
DG4
DG5
INSTITUTE for VETERINARYINSPECTION
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
FPS Public Health, Safety of the Food Chain & Environment (= former Ministry)
• Policy making competences:– Product standards (pesticides, feed, food)– Standards for animal health– Standards for plant health– Standards and control policy in the field of animal
welfare
The competence for veterinary medicinal products has been transferred to the « Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products ».
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
FASFC : The Food Agency
• Agency : all inspection and control services in agri- food chain
• Food/Feed Safety• Animal Health• Plant Health• Animal Welfare
• Competences :– Operational standards– Registration, authorization, approval of operators– Certification– Prevention, sensitization and information – Laboratories – Monitoring the various links of the food chain (products and
production processes)
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Suppliers
of agriculture (feed industry, raw materials, pesticides)
Agriculture
Food industry
Wholesale business
Retail
Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs
Transport
MoH
MoH
MoA-A (2)
MoA-P (2)
FASFC
Our goal :optimising food chain checks
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
The core process of the FASFC
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Close cooperation with stakeholders
• The FASFC stakeholders are divided into 3 groups, which are all represented in the Advisory Committee (monthly meeting) :– Sectoral organizations– Consumer organizations– Governmental bodies (federal and regional)
• All stakeholders can view the inspection checklists on the FASFC website
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Two consultative bodies
• The Advisory committee– Includes all partners of the FASFC– Opinions on risk management (self-checking, financing,
communication, …)– Control programming and planning– Results / statistics
• The Scientific board:– Independent risk assessment– Opinions on risk management standards, regulations
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain31-03-2011
DG Control
Staff and supportNational Inquiry Unit
NIU
Directorate for Coordination of the French and German speaking parts of Belgium
Directorate for Coordination of the Dutch speaking part of Belgium
Directorate of CentralAdministration
PCUBrabant wallon
PCUNamur
PCUHainaut
PCULiège
PCULuxem-bourg
PCUBrussels Capital.
PCUOost-
Vlaand
PCUWest-Vlaand
PCUAntwer-
pen
PCULim-burg
PCEVlaamsBrabant
National Implementation and Coordination Unit : NICU
StaffPersonne lLogistics
Budget-A ccounts
Border Inspection PostsB IP
Zaventem, Gent, Zeebrugge, A ntwerpen, Liège
Controls and A pprovalsAdministration
Supplies to agriculturePrimary production
F irst processing
Sector HeadPrimary P roduction
Sector
Controls and A pprovalsAdministration
Production and processingof food
and feed
Sector HeadProcessing
Sector
Controls and A pprovalsAdministration
D istributionCommunity kitchens
Catering industry
Sector HeadD istribution
Sector
PCU Head
Structure of a PCU
22-11-2011
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
The FASFC as it is today
• Staff of 1.325 employees (1150 FTE) including– 700 in decentralized services of DG Control (PCU)– 150 in our 5 internal laboratories of DG Lab
• Policy makers, frontline-inspectors, scientists, ICT-specialists, communication experts, financial officers, laboratory technicians, support staff
• ± 665 part-time assigned (contracted) veterinarians (abattoirs, etc)
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
General principlesfinancing system I• “General” costs financed by national federal budget
• Policy-making / Corporate services• Communication to and with consumers;
• National Control Program covering the whole of the food chain financed by a contribution (levy) charged to all operators– General control programmes
• official control of the entire food chain• cannot be allocated to a certain group of operators
• All costs due to official controls on demand financed by a retribution (charge/due) of individual operators;
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
General principles financing system II • Equitable distribution between sectors and
actors of the food chain; • Take into account the level of risk;• Take into account implementation of self-
checking systems– Companies with a certified self-checking system:
• Bonus : contribution decreased
– Companies without a certified self-checking system:
• Malus : contribution increased
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Official controls of the FASFC
• 1. National Control Plan (MANCP)• 2 pillars:
– Analyses
– Inspections
• Multi-annual, yearly revised
• Programmes established (BE, EU) : e.g. on radioactivity, dioxins,…
• 2. Systematic controls : e.g. BSE, meat inspection, animal welfare, BIP
• 3. Controls not included in programme : following complaints, official reports on infringements, various information, certification, …
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Control plan
• Legal framework : Reg. (EC) N° 882/2004• MANCP (multi-annual integrated national control
plan)• Based on risk analysis• Uniformly distributed on national territory• Balanced distribution among business sectors and
operators• Significant statistics
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Communication : channels
• Internal communication • Foodnotes (information magazine)• Intranet
• External communication – Website: www.favv.be – Press service– Contact point– Newsletter– Information leaflets– Annual report – business plan – Taking part in events - discussions
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Values of the Food Agency
• Professionalism• Integrity• Openness and transparency• Polyvalence• Participation
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain22-11-2011
Thank you for your attention