Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

RASFFRapid Alert System for Food and Feed

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

2

Rapid Alert System Food and Feed (RASFF)

When a member of the RASFF network has any information relating to existence of serious risk to human health deriving from food or feed it shall immediately notify it to the Commission

In 2014 RASFF was activated 9067 times (3157 original and 5910 follow-up notifications – never more follow-up in the past! )

information on RASFF notifications published: RASFF Portal

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/ Consumer recall:

http://webgate.ec.europa/rasff-window/recall/ Annual Report

•

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

RASFF: strong in IT!

iRASFF: real time, interactively collecting and sharing information on hazards, risks, products, lots and measures taken

RASFF Window: tool to distribute notifications "outside the system": in Commission, MS and TC Competent Authorities

RASFF Portal and RASFF Consumers' Portal: provide information on RASFF notifications to the general public and stakeholders

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

5

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

6

Add to bookmarks

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

7

Rapid Alert System Food and Feed (RASFF)

New websiteto inform the

consumer about recalls made within the last month in

their country

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

8

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

9

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

44%

Border rejections at the borders of the EEA

RASFF at the border and on the market

56%

Products that are circulating on the EEA market and need to be traced

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Follow-up = collaboration of Member States on notifications

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

12

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

RASFF early days

• Created to report "serious and immediate dangers to food"

• However first notifications about "total volatile basic nitrogen"! A practice that was later set into the framework of EU food legislation: RASFF can be used for direct or indirect health risks.

• Hazards were'nt always well defined• No differentiation in seriousness or priority• Very low notification numbers

13

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

General food law: a milestone

• RASFF received its own legal basis and is extended to food and feed for direct and indirect risks to human health

• Notifications on border rejections become mandatory

• GFL boosts RASFF numbers > 1000• Context:

• food safety = responsibility of FBO• Requirements for traceability and recall• Foundation of EFSA, member of RASFF

14

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Further developments• Before 669/2009 and TRACES, RASFF border

rejections enabled a form of reinforced checks at the border and on the market

• 2008: • alerts are based on risk• border rejections as a separate class

• 2011:• RASFF implementing Regulation

Alert definition: notification of a risk that requires or might require rapid action in another member country

Deadlines: 48 hours NCP / 24 hours ECCP

15

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

RASFF SOPs: completed in 2014

16

• Codify the experience gained by members of the network regarding the following key elements:• types of notifications • duties of the members of the network?• requirements for transmitting the different types

of notifications?• Commission's contact point's specific tasks?• withdrawal and amendment of a notification?• exchange of information with third countries?

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

RASFF SOPs clarify the scope of RASFF

17

• The scope of RASFF covers direct or indirect risks to human health in relation to food, food contact material or feed as well as serious risks to human health, animal health or the environment in relation to a specific feed.

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Risk decision diagram

18

Non-complianc

e?Risk? Serious

Risk?

Risk evaluation

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Assessment: is the issue within the scope of RASFF?

• The assessment whether or not there is a risk involved in non-compliant food/feed, and whether the risk is such as to require the notification to the RASFF is the responsibility of the members of the network.

• A list of cases where MS have considered that the risk was not such as to require a notification to the RASFF is provided (heading A).

19

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Cases where a risk requires or possibly requires rapid action in another member country (alert notifications)

• This is the case where rapid action is needed to counter a serious risk. • list of cases where MS have considered that the

risk was such as to require rapid action• cases where MS have considered that the risk was

such as to possibly require rapid action (in some cases following an ad hoc risk evaluation)

- As regards food- As regards feed

20

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Risk decision

• WI 2.1 and 2.2 in preparation to guide members of the network to a harmonised risk decision, which is:• Taken on the basis of the information present in

the RASFF notification - hazards detected and the nature of the product (risk evaluation)

• Defines, together with distribution status, the notification classification and type of flags

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

RASFF notifications as a basis for planning inspections?

• Number of notifications = what? – what defines a notification?• Border control: 1 consignment = 1 notification

Consignment size may vary from few kilos to >1000 tonnes

• Market control: notifications may have a very different "weight"

• Need to compare to other data such as• Number of controls, % of non compliances• Data on trade, import• Audit reports (FVO)• These data are not real-time…!

22

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Challenges for the future

Complete and implement RASFF Standard Operating Procedures

RASFF REFIT: is the RASFF legal basis still fit for purpose? (as part of the GFL REFIT exercise)

RASFF linking and integrating with other systems IMSOC EWRS Food fraud/AAC

Crisis preparedness: Improved data collection for foodborne outbreaks Improved traceability data