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Annual Report Food Safety Alert Meeting 2021

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July 7, 2022

In 2021, 73 signals were discussed and interpreted in the Food Safety Alert Consultation (SO-V). This is stated in the annual report of the SO-V. In this Identification Consultation, which also includes Wageningen Food Safety Research, experts discuss signals of new possible risks regarding food safety. The aim of the consultation is to identify these risks in time. Measures to protect people's health can thus be taken more quickly.

Overview signals

For 9 of the 73 signals, the SO-V concluded that measures are needed or that more research is needed. These signals were reported to the ministries of VWS and LNV and the NVWA (all Dutch Authorities). This is not an immediate risk, but a possible increased risk in the future. For the other 64 signals, the SO-V concluded that there was no question of a possible increased risk or that the matter was already known.

Background Food Safety Alert Consultation

In order to identify new risks of the presence of bacteria, viruses and chemicals in our food as early as possible, the Food Safety Alert Consultation was launched in 2020. The SO-V was set up on behalf of the ministries of VWS and LNV. The reason for this was the report of the Dutch Safety Board (2019) on emerging food safety risks.

The Alert Consultation consists of two parts. There is a consultation on microbiological risks, the SO-VM (chaired by RIVM). In addition, there is a consultation on chemical risks, the SO-VC (chaired by Wageningen Food Safety Research, WFSR). Both parts contain experts in the field of food safety from various organizations. These experts collect signals that they discuss with each other and give meaning.

The following organizations are part of the Food Safety Alert Consultation: WFSR, RIVM, NVWA-Bureau Risk Assessment, Board for the Authorization of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) and Board for the Evaluation of Medicines-Bureau Veterinary Medicines