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OPINION (2023/2151(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2022

ENVI-AD-754679

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Pascal Canfin

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The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety gives its opinion on discharge for the European Food Safety Authority's 2022 budget, recommending discharge if commitments are given on independence policy and conflict of interest management. It welcomes EFSA's scientific advice and communication work, notes its EUR 149,76 million budget and 100% commitment implementation rate, and the first year of Strategy 2027. It notes EFSA finalised 586 questions in 2022, 118 fewer than 2021, and that timely advice remains a concern. It deplores delays in sweetener assessments and calls on EFSA to review aspartame safety by 31 December 2024. It notes EFSA's staffing and calls on the Commission to ensure sufficient resources for plant protection products assessments, and welcomes joint data management and the 'one substance - one assessment' principle.

Committee position. The committee recommends that discharge be granted to the Executive Director of EFSA for the 2022 budget if commitments are given on independence policy and conflict of interest management, and calls for a review of aspartame safety by 31 December 2024.

Key points

  1. Calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate these suggestions into its motion for a resolution.
  2. Welcomes EFSA's contribution to food and feed safety, its independent scientific advice, public communication and cooperation with partners.
  3. Notes EFSA's 2022 final budget of EUR 149,76 million, a 16% increase from 2021, with 100% commitment and 90% payment implementation rates.
  4. Notes 2022 was the first year of Strategy 2027, focused on the Transparency Regulation and evolving EU policies such as the Farm to Fork Strategy.
  5. Highlights that EFSA finalised 586 questions in 2022, 118 fewer than 2021 and 115 less than the initial plan of 701.
  6. Notes that EFSA's ability to provide timely advice remains a point of attention according to its Annual Strategy Survey.
  7. Deplores delays in sweetener safety assessments and calls on EFSA to review aspartame safety by 31 December 2024, citing IARC's classification of aspartame as a possible group 2B human carcinogen.
  8. Notes EFSA received 31 new staff posts and 15 additional CAs, reaching 572 statutory posts, with 571 of 587 posts occupied on 31 December 2022.
  9. Calls on the Commission to ensure EFSA has sufficient resources and posts to support Member States, double assessments of active substances and triple the speed of methodology development.
  10. Welcomes EFSA's intention to strengthen joint data management with Member States and other agencies under the One Health approach.
  11. Welcomes EFSA's steps with ECHA to promote the 'one substance - one assessment' principle for consistency in hazard and risk assessment.
  12. Recommends discharge be granted to EFSA's Executive Director for the 2022 budget if commitments are given on independence policy and conflict of interest management.

Who is affected

  • European Food Safety Authority: subject of the discharge decision and recommendations on resources, staffing and assessments.
  • European Commission: called on to ensure EFSA has sufficient resources and posts for plant protection products assessments.
  • Member States: to benefit from EFSA support to meet deadlines under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and joint data management.
  • Committee on Budgetary Control: asked to incorporate the suggestions into its motion for a resolution.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 149,76 million: EFSA's final budget for 2022.
  • 16 %: increase in EFSA's budget compared to 2021.
  • 100 %: implementation rate for commitment appropriations in 2022.
  • 90 %: implementation rate for payment appropriations in 2022.
  • 586: questions finalised by EFSA in 2022.
  • 118: fewer questions finalised in 2022 than in 2021.
  • 115: fewer questions finalised than the initial plan of 701.
  • 31 December 2024: deadline for EFSA to review aspartame safety.