The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is at the core of Europe’s food safety system. To ensure that the system works effectively, it is critical that EFSA works closely with partners and stakeholders, and is a proactive member of important networks.

Partners include institutions with whom the Authority has a legal obligation to work with under Community rules specifically risk managers working within the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States, and stakeholder groups and individuals or groups who feel they can contribute to the Authority’s work. Examples of this would be the EFSA Advisory Forum which brings together the national food safety authorities of all 27 EU Member States and the EFSA stakeholder consultative platform which brings together EU-wide stakeholder organisations working in areas related to the food chain.

Networks and specific projects where EFSA plays an important role include the PHARE programme, one of the three pre-accession instruments financed by the European Union to assist applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe in their preparations for joining the European Union, and international cooperation through involvement with bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

EFSA also organizes and participates in many events annually on scientific topics within its mandate. These include workshops, conferences and roundtables. These enable EFSA to update partners and interested partners on new developments on scientific subjects within its remit as well as to gather feedback, information and different points of view on ongoing work such as the development of guidance documents or risk assessments.

See EFSA's Strategy for Cooperation and Networking with Member States.