The new EU framework legislation on food safety came into force on 21 February. The Regulation, “containing the general principles and general provisions of food legislation, is accompanied both by the formal opening of the European Authority for food safety (whose provisional seat, while awaiting a decision of the Council, is in Brussels), and the introduction of the new system of rapid alert on the basis of which the member states have the obligation to notify the Executive of any potential risk posed not only by foodstuffs but now also by animal feeds. In substance, the Commission now has the power to order the urgent withdrawal from the market of any foodstuffs or livestock feeds that potentially constitute a grave risk for the health of man, animals and the environment. The technical Committees, which the Commission has availed itself of, are now amalgamated into the “Standing Committee of the food chain and human health”, henceforth the one consultative organ given the task of advising the EU in the formulation of food security measures.
