By Gemma Lougheed - 25th January 2006
Cuts proposed by national governments to Brussels budgets for 2007 to 2013 “could seriously undermine food safety in Europe”, the EFSA has warned.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has expressed deep concern over future EU financing after a December slashed original projections.
In the wake of a series of scares last year, involving the discovery of unauthorised dyes such as Sudan 1 in food products, the EFSA argues that the EU needs food safety resources more than ever.
“With these cuts, in the event of a food pandemic, we believe we would do what was requested of us,” said a spokeswoman.
“But it would mean skipping other work; we would have to prioritise and consequently, food safety would suffer. These cuts definitely jeopardise our scientific work.”
EFSA chairman Stuart Slorach plans to mount a fight back in the EU institutions and seek support for winning back funds.
A member of European parliament’s committee for food safety, Liam Aylward MEP, said that he was very unhappy about the cuts.
“I expect standards for the EU. Without a doubt I fully support EFSA’s campaign to have their budget reinstated,” said Aylward.
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