Tasks
The list of the tasks of a food authority seems to us to be extremely long, though most of them are necessary. It will not be possible, however, entirely to exclude certain aspects of risk management from its work. This applies to the operation of the "early-warning system" and to "communication" with the public. However, if discussions about "communication" should lead to the conclusion that in this connection it ought to be among the responsibilities of the food authority, then the authority must set itself clear guidelines defining what information is given to whom, on what conditions, and when. Committed supporters of the principle of transparency though we are, we must still ensure that the principle of confidentiality is preserved and that of proportionality applied.
The list of tasks should also expressly include providing the Commission and member states with scientific advice on contentious questions of the free movement of goods, as well as on solving conflicts in the field of world trade. Such an authority is particularly well-placed to play a major role in cases where there are diverging views in the internal market about the scientific assessment regarding certain questions that may result in threatening the principle of mutual recognition.
We also argue that the authority should concern itself with all scientific questions of food safety, wherever they may arise along the food chain. It should particularly undertake scientific assessments necessary in the preliminary agricultural stages, e.g. in animal-feed production, whenever these may affect food safety.
