Dutch food authority: objectives and organization

Dutch Food Authority. For several reasons, the Dutch Government decided in November last year to establish a Dutch Food Authority. There have of course been various incidents regarding food safety. Equally important, however, the European Commission announced its intention to establish a European Food Authority in its white paper on food safety. The Member States must adapt their national administrative structure to suit. Last but not least, there is a generally recognized need for a single body to co-ordinate and direct scientific research, risk analysis, monitoring and inspections, and to communicate to the public on matters of food safety. One of the primary objectives of the Dutch Food Authority is to restore consumer confidence in the safety of food. We hope to achieve this through fast, clear and open communication. The evaluation of food crises last year, has underlined the complexity and lack of transparency in legislation and in monitoring, investigation and enforcement procedures regarding food production, trade and consumption. Those in the sector are often uncertain about the exact division of tasks, responsibilities and authority. This applies in particular to the division between public and private responsibilities. A food product is often the result of raw ingredients, components and products from many different channels. Traceability is easier said than done. So-called nutriceuticals are a new area of concern. The roots of the current complex monitoring and inspection system go back to traditional, small-scale agriculture. The present large-scale industrial activities, the new quality assurance schemes and the need for transparency, tracking and tracing are forcing us to re-think our food monitoring systems. The European developments referred to earlier also contain proposals for a new ordering and harmonization of laws and regulations in which integrated chain management takes a central place. Present Dutch legislation is far from perfect in this respect. It should re-direct its focus to chain management. The need for a clear division between private and public interests is widely felt. Monitoring schemes vary per production chain: there is a lack of uniformity and transparency. The government wants to put this right. The Netherlands should tie in with European developments. Within its term of office the present government wants to get a system in place that ensures food safety. Two things are vital here: We need a chain-oriented approach to ensure food safety. Current food production chains need to be analyzed with respect to the way present legislation works, the way private/public responsibilities are divided, the main risks to food safety, the measures in place and the measures needed. We need a single organization to co-ordinate and direct food policy, research, monitoring and inspections, and to communicate to the public on matters of food safety. This single organization is the Dutch Food Authority. It is the government's ambition to make the Dutch Food Authority a leader in the field.