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Foodborne diseases take a major toll on health, with millions of European estimated to fall ill and many dying every year as a result of eating unsafe food. Food safety is hence recognized as an essential public health aspect.

Global strategy and European policies

On mandate of the World Health Assembly, WHO developed a global strategy in 2002 on reducing the burden of foodborne disease, which is now being implemented worldwide. According to the global stategy, the prevention of foodborne disease and the response to food safety challenges requires holistic, risk-based and timely food safety policies and strategies.

In recent years, European countries have developed food safety policies and strategies and some of them have established national food (safety) agencies or authorities with full responsibility for all sectors of the food chain. Regardless of the national structures, the aim is to achieve an integrated and coordinated national food safety system that address the whole food chain, including environmental aspects.

The WHO European Action Plan on Food and Nutrition Policy 2007–2012 highlights important areas for improvement in both food safety and nutrition. Member States are encouraged to use it as a reference in developing and implementing their own national policies and strategies according to their needs. 

WHO/Europe’s work to further strengthen and to improve coordination and harmonization of national food safety services complements that of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), established by the European Commission (EC).