Navigation und Service

EFSA EU-FORA Programme 2021

01/2021-12/2021

Funding institution: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Grant number: GP/EFSA/ENCO/2018/05

The European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) Fellowship Programme is a key initiative for building the EU’s scientific assessment capacity and knowledge community. In this years call the following projects are implemented.

1. Risk Assessment of Food Contact Materials

Project description:

The aim of the project is to have the EU-FORA Fellow assist in the risk assessment of food conat materials at BfR, providing him with extensive knowledge in this area. The evaluation of substances for inclusion in the BfR recommendations for food contact materials and articles is carried out according to the specifications of the EFSA guidance document. The evaluation of substances for plastic food contact materials is carried out by EFSA in the same way. The fellow will improve her/his knowledge of tools to assess health risks posed by food contact materials. She/he will gain deep insight into the evaluation of dossiers for the inclusion of new substances in the database "BfR Recommendations on Food Contact Materials". This insight comes from both sides - the analytical and the toxicological side. The results of the BfR risk assessment are discussed in expert panels of the BfR Committee on Consumer Products. In addition, the risk assessment of substances originating from current issues will be one of the training objectives. As the National Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials, which is also located at the BfR, the fellow has the opportunity to carry out a project in the laboratory. The laboratory develops new analytical methods and carries out analyses on current issues and to support the risk assessment of food contact materials.

2. Risk Assessment of Botanical Preparations used in Food Supplements and Fortified Foods

Project description:

The present project involves the hosting and supervision of a fellow at the BfR Unit of Nutritional Risks, Allergies and Novel Foods at the Department of Food Safety, in the context of the EFSA European Food Safety Risk Assessment Fellowship Programme.
Preparations of Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) have been selected as first candidates for the safety assessment of botanicals. Risk assessments will be performed in accordance with EFSA`s risk assessment methodologies, e. g. in accordance with the EFSA Guidance on safety assessment of botanicals and botanical preparations intended for use as ingredients in food supplements (EFSA J. 2009, Volume 7, Issue 9, Pp 1249).

BfR activities within the EU-FORA programme:

• Member of the EU-FORA programme committee
• Member of a consortium to run module 2 on risk communication and crisis response

EFSA's fellowship initiative contributes to building the EU’s scientific assessment capacity and knowledge community and is planned to be further continued.

Up