Prof. Dr. Gerhard Rechkemmer Max Rubner-Institute Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food 9 th Food Safety and Quality Summit 2-3 December 2014, Hotel Le Meridian, New Delhi Excellence in Food Safety and Quality for Consumer Safety and Competitiveness Food Quality and Safety Research Activities conducted in the Federal Research Institutes in Germany
The German Research Landscape Federal Government Federal Research Institutions Total: 45, 5 of it BMEL* Helmholtz Association (90:10) Leibniz Association (55:45) Max Planck Society (50:50) Fraunhofer Society (90:10) German Research Foundation (50:50) Federal States Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences State Research Institutes Total: 86, 6 of it partly funded by BMEL 12/16/2014 Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi Private Sector Institutions of companies Economically oriented R&D institutions Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF) 2
Publicly financed Research Institutes in the Agri-Food Sector in Germany Organisational Group Staff Per Cent Universities (14 faculties for food and agriculture and 5 veterinary faculties) 4.415 40 17 Universities of Applied Science 737 7 31 Länder (federal states) Research Institutions 1.844 16 4 Federal Research Centres and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment 6 Leibniz Institutes (BMEL) 2.556 750 23 7 Others 746 7 Total 11.048 100 16.12.2014 Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 3
German Research Council Senate Commission on Food Safety Task: Provide scientific expertise and advice policy about matters of food safety. Identify knowledge gaps and research needs. Conduct scientific workshops on actual topics related to food safety. Publish scientific opinions on specific food safety issues. Members: Food Chemists, Toxicologists, Food Technologists and Nutritionists from Universities Scientists from relevant Federal Research Institutes (BfR, MRI, PEI) Company Scientists Guests from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 4
Research within the Remit of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) Senate of the Federal Research Institutes of the BMEL 16.12.2014 Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 5
The Diverse Tasks of the Federal Government Departmental Research Research Providing scientific guidance for agriculture, food and consumer protection policy and to extend scientific knowledge for the public good Review Statutory tasks (e.g. emanating from the Plant Protection Act, Genetic Engineering Act or Animal Disease Act, reference laboratories) Advise Advising on matters of agriculture, food and consumer protection policy (incl. forestry and fisheries) 16.12.2014 Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 6
Research Institutes of the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture The Federal Research Institutes have the task to provide independent scientific advice as a basis for political decisions and at the same time to increase the scientific knowledge for the benefit of consumers and of society in general. In view of these responsibilities the Federal Research Institutes are scientifically independent. By choosing the research topics they are orienting their strategy on a research plan, which is regularly updated according to the societal, political and technical developments. Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 7 16.12.2014
Research Institutes Federal Research Centres Julius Kühn Institute - Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants (JKI) Friedrich Loeffler Institute Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI) Max Rubner Institute Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food (MRI) Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries (Thünen Institute) Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) Leibniz Institutes German Research Centre for Food Chemistry (DFA) Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB) Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research (ZALF) 16.12.2014 Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 8
From Farm to Fork Food value chain Agriculture Plant and Animal Production Processing Retail Household Catering Restaurants Safety and Quality Aspects to be considered Benefit-Risk-Assessment to be conducted Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 9
Risk Assessment vs. Risk Management. What s the difference? Risk Assessor EFSA is the risk assessor, evaluating risks associated with the food chain. EFSA doesn t have scientific laboratories, nor does it generate new scientific research. It collects and analyses existing research and data and provides scientific advice to support decision-making by risk managers. Risk Manager Risk managers are the European Commission, Member State authorities and the European Parliament. They are responsible for making decisions or setting legislation about food safety. Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 10 16.12.2014
Food Safety Hazard Identification Chemical Safety Endogenous Substances e.g. phytochemicals, toxins Environmental Contaminants e.g. dioxins, PCBs Substances Originating from Processing e.g. PAHs, acrylamide, 3-MCPD Microbial Safety Pathogenic Microorganisms e.g. Salmonella, Listeria, EHEC Fungal Contamination e.g. Mycotoxins (Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin, Fumonisins etc.) Allergens Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 11 16.12.2014
Food Safety Framework Hazard Identification & Hazard Characterization + Exposure Assessment Risk Assessment & Risk Characterization Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 12 16.12.2014
THREE MAIN QUESTIONS FOR EXPOSURE ASSESSEMENT Which substances are present in what amounts in a given food/diet (including information concerning factors influencing their levels and qualities such as bioavailability) How much of the foods containing these substances are consumed and what is the consumption of potentially relevant risk groups, including high users? What are the conditions and the probabilities of consuming occasionally or regularly high amounts of such foods which at the same time contain high levels of the substance(s) in question? Adopted by courtesy of Dr. M. Knowles Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 13
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The Risk Framework RISK ASSESSMENT Hazard identification Hazard characterization Exposure assessment RISK COMMUNICATION Interactive exchange of information and opinions RISK MANAGEMENT Assess control options Select and implement appropriate options Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 15 16.12.2014
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Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK 2013 18 16.12.2014
Factors Affecting our Food Supply Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 19
Food Safety Network in Europe BMEL Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 20
BMEL The food safety communications centre BMEL Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 21
BVL-mandate Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 22
BfR-mandate Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 23
The food safety monitoring system Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 24
Cooperation between government authorities in approving plant protection products Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 25
The seven fundamental principles of food safety Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 26
Thank you for your attention! Food Safety and Quality Summit, New Delhi 16.12.2014 27