A coalition of leading business and agri-food industry stakeholders has published an open letter calling for urgent improvements to the performance of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The signatories represent thousands of food and feed operators along the agri-food chain and stress the need for a high-performing EFSA to ensure the EU remains globally competitive.
The letter comes amid the European Commission’s Performance Evaluation of EFSA and highlights persistent challenges in regulatory processes, including disproportionate administrative burdens, lengthy timelines, and limited expert engagement. These hurdles, stakeholders warn, discourage innovation and make the EU a less attractive market for new food and feed products.
While the group welcomes EFSA’s recent efforts to improve transparency and stakeholder dialogue, they call for further steps to streamline risk assessment processes, expand meaningful pre-submission advice, and better integrate scientific and industry expertise. The letter also underlines the importance of accelerating the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to reduce reliance on animal testing.
In line with the Commission’s own Vision for Agriculture and Food, the signatories urge EU policymakers to act swiftly and ensure EFSA supports innovation in sustainable, safe, and competitive agri-food production.
