Networks of Knowledge - Sharing of Information and Expertise

Identification of emerging risks related to food safety provides the possibility to develop measures aimed at the prevention or mitigation of public health risks, as well as tools for an overall risk/benefit assessment of new food supply chains and technological developments. The definition of an emerging risk encompasses the context of novelty, a new hazard, or a known hazards emerging in new conditions. The challenges arise from the uncertainty, lack of data, and the difficulty to quantify the risk. Risk assessment frameworks, such as the one adapted by CODEX Alimentarius and the European Union food law, are not directly applicable. The growing complexity of globalised food chains requires that different information be considered. The European Food Safety Authority has developed a process for the identification of emerging risks in food and feed, which relies on networks of knowledge with multidisciplinary expertise. The Food and Agriculture Organization has worked to develop a pragmatic approach that can be coherently applied by the different divisions/units dealing with Food Safety/Animal and Plant Health. The International Food Safety Authorities Network is a joint FAO/WHO voluntary global network of food safety authorities and provides an important platform for the rapid exchange of information in the case of food safety crises and for sharing data on both routine and emerging food safety issues. The availability of global information is a unique opportunity to improve our capacity of identifying risks; but, collaboration between all partners is even more necessary. Further efforts are needed to create a common mechanism to share experiences on the different methodologies applied, as well as to pool the intelligence gathered.