Executive Director
Department/Unit: Executive Directorate
Phone: +39 0521 036 397
Email address:
Dr. Bernhard Url was appointed Executive Director of EFSA in June 2014, having served as Acting Executive Director for seven months. Dr. Url joined EFSA in June 2012 as Head of the Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance Department. A qualified veterinarian by training, he brings high-level management experience from food-safety organisations to his role at EFSA.
Prior to joining the Authority, Dr. Url was Managing Director of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), which represents Austria on EFSA’s Advisory Forum. From 2008 to March 2012, he also served as a member of EFSA’s Management Board.
During his 10 years at AGES, he was in charge of technical and scientific affairs with a remit that included the timely delivery of risk assessment and risk management services across a wide range of areas. This included ensuring effective risk communications during urgent food safety-related events.
Prior to AGES Dr. Url spent five years as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Milk Hygiene and Milk Technology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna before running a food quality control laboratory from 1993 to 2002.
Dr. Url graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna in 1987 and became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. He has published in the field of veterinary medicine with a particular focus on listeria and milk hygiene.
Declaration of Interest 
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Diary
Meeting of the Heads of European Food Safety Agencies
23 May 2017 – Oslo, Norway
Meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST), Matìs and Directorate of Health of the Ministry of Welfare
Conference Combating Antimicrobial Resistance
15 May 2017 – Reykjavik, Iceland
Meeting with Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety
11-12 May 2017 – EFSA premises
Meeting with Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU
08 May 2017 – Parma
Exchange of views with ENVI Committee
04 May 2017 – European Parliament, Brussels
Meeting with DG SANTE Senior Management
03 May 2017 – European Commission, Brussels
Meeting with EU Ambassador Viorel Isticioaia-Budura
Trilateral EFSA-BfR-ANSES
Meeting with Minister Jun Matsumoto
Fifth Meeting with the Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ)
Joint FSCJ-EFSA International Conference “What does the future hold for international scientific cooperation for food safety?”
24 - 28 April 2017 – Tokyo, Japan
Exchange of views with AGRI Committee
11 April 2017 – European Parliament, Brussels
Meeting with RACFCH Senior and Experts’ staff
Meeting with Prof. Dr. Hristo Bozukov, Minister of Agriculture
Meeting with Bulgarian scientific organizations under EFSA’s Art. 36 list
04 - 05 April 2017 – Sofia, Bulgaria
International Bee conference
28 March 2017 – Berlin, Germany
IIWG2 Meeting at the European Parliament
27 March 2017 – Brussels, Belgium
72nd Meeting of the EFSA Management Board
21-22 March 2017 – EFSA premises
Handover meeting of the Coordination of the EU Agencies Network with EUIPO and EUROFOUND
13 March 2017 – EFSA premises
63rd Meeting of the EFSA Advisory Forum
07-08 March 2017 –La Valletta, Malta
Meeting with Hon. Christopher Fearne, Minister of Health
Meeting with Maltese Food Safety Commission (FSC) and art. 36 organisations
6 March 2017 –La Valletta, Malta
Meeting of the Heads of EU Agencies
1 March 2017 – Brussels, Belgium
Meeting with ENVI Committee Chair, MEP Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN – European Parliament
Meeting with Greenpeace and Corporate Europe Observatory
28 February 2017 – Brussels, Belgium
CONT Committee Hearing of the EU Agencies – European Parliament
Meeting with European Commission representatives
24-25 January 2017 – Brussels, Belgium
Working lunch with Italian Undersecretary Mr. Sandro Gozi
16 January 2017 – Parma, Italy
71st meeting of the EFSA Management Board
8-9 December 2016 – EFSA premises
62nd meeting of the EFSA Advisory Forum
8-9 December 2016 – EFSA premises
EU Agencies Forum, European Parliament
6-7 December 2016 –Brussels, Belgium
Meeting with representatives of Industry Associations: FoodDrinkEurope, European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation, EuropaBio, European Crop Protection Association
Meeting with representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations: Testbiotech, Greenpeace, Corporate Europe Observatory
23 November 2016 –Brussels, Belgium
Meeting with DG SANTE Senior Management
22 November 2016 –Brussels, Belgium
Meeting with Róbert Zsigó, State Secretary and Lajos Bognár, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
Meeting with representatives of the National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH)
Conference “Science-based food chain safety: our common interest”
10-11 November 2016 –Budapest, Hungary
Meeting with representatives of DG SANTE
Working Party of the Chief Veterinary Officers
8 November 2016 –Brussels, Belgium
10th annual China International Food Safety and Quality Conference
BfR Seminar “Current risk assessment of Global Food Chains”
Joint EC-EFSA seminar “Priorities in food safety 2016-2020”
2-3 November 2016 –Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Meeting with representatives of the China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) and signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation
Meeting with representatives of the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA)
1 November 2016 –Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Meeting of the Heads of EU Agencies
19-21 October 2016 – EUIPO, Alicante
Meeting with ECDC Senior Management
13 October 2016 – Stockholm, Sweden
Meeting with Swedish Focal Point, members of EFSA scientific networks and representatives of article 36 organisations
13 October 2016 – Uppsala, Sweden
Meeting with Elisabeth Backteman, State Secretary, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation
Meeting with National Food Agency (NFA) and National veterinary Institute (SVA)
12 October 2016 – Uppsala, Sweden
EVIRA 10th and Finnish Risk Assessment 15th Anniversary Seminar
11 October 2016 – Helsinki, Finland
Meeting with ECHA Senior Management
11 October 2016 – Helsinki, Finland
70th meeting of the EFSA Management Board
4-5 October 2016 – EFSA premises, Parma
Meeting with The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC)
30 September 2016 –Brussels, Belgium
Meeting with MEPs Heidi HAUTALA, Bart STAES, Michèle RIVASI, Benedek JÁVOR Meeting with Corporate Europe Observatory Bilateral meeting with Xavier Prats Monné, Director General, DG SANTE
29 September 2016 –Brussels, Belgium
Conference Science and policy making: towards a new dialogue
29 September 2016 –Brussels, Belgium
61st meeting of the EFSA Advisory Forum
28 September 2016 –Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, experts and competent authorities
27 September 2016 –Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Taiwan International Food Safety Summit
29 August-1 September 2016 – Taipei, Taiwan
Meeting with Mr Roger Genet, Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES)
11 July 2016, Maisons-Alfort, Paris, France
Meeting with representatives of the Federal Public Services for Public Health, Food Chain, Safety and Environment
28 June 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Annual Roundtable with industry associations
27 June 2016, Brussels, Belgium
69th Meeting of the EFSA Management Board
14-15 June 2016, EFSA premises, Italy
60th Meeting of the EFSA Advisory Forum
08-09 June 2016, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Meetings with RIKILT, NVWA and RIVM representatives
06-07 June 2016, The Netherlands
30th Meeting of the EFSA Stakeholder Consultative Platform
31 May-1 June 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Interview with Politico
31 May 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Meeting of the Heads of EU Agencies
25 May 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Meetings with DG SANTE representatives
Meeting with MEP Martin Häusling
Meeting with MEP José Bové
24 May 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Visit of Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
28 April 2016, Parma, EFSA premises
Meeting with representatives of the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET)
Meeting with the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr Evangelos Apostolou
Meeting with SVET (Federation of Hellenic Food Industries)
14 April 2016, Athens, Greece
Conference “Safe Food – Our responsibility”
Meeting with the Minister of Health and care Services, Mr Bent Høie
Meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Climate and Environment Work sessions with the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM), the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Norwegian Environmental Agency , the Norwegian Institute of Public Health
7-8 April 2016, Oslo, Norway
Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine 2016 Annual conference
18 March 2016, Elsinore, Denmark
Meeting with representatives of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration
Meeting with representatives of the DTU National Food Institute
17 March 2016, Copenhagen, Denmark
68th Meeting of the EFSA Management Board
15-16 March 2016, Parma, EFSA premises
59th Meeting of the EFSA Advisory Forum
8-9 March 2016, Parma, EFSA premises
Bilateral meeting with Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis
4 March 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Handover meeting of the Coordination of the EU Agencies Network with EUROFOUND and OHIM
3 March 2016, Alicante, Spain
Meeting of the Heads of EU Agencies
18 February 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Bilateral meeting with Xavier Prats Monne, Director General, DG SANTE
17 February 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Bilateral meeting with Michael Scannell, DG SANTE
17 February 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Exchange of views with the ENVI Committee, European Parliament
17 February 2016, Brussels, Belgium
15-16 January 2016, Berlin
14-15 January 2016, Berlin
14 January 2016, Berlin
14 January 2016, Berlin
13 January 2016, Brussels, Belgium
12 January 2016, Brussels, Belgium
12 January 2016, Brussels, Belgium
14 December 2015, Parma, EFSA premises
8-9 December 2015, Luxembourg
7 December 2015, Luxembourg
2-3 December 2015, Parma, EFSA premises
1 December 2015, Brussels, Belgium
1 December 2015, Brussels, Belgium
12 November 2015, Brussels, Belgium
Meeting with Mr Vladimír Šucha, Director General of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission
76th Meeting of the EFSA Scientific Committee
European Ombudsman 20th Anniversary reception
11 November 2015, Brussels, Belgium
Roundtable conference luncheon "Ensuring consumer safety: the role of EFSA" – AECA
Meeting with Mr John Bell, Director of the Bioeconomy Directorate in DG RTD
10 November 2015, Brussels, Belgium
9 November 2015, Brussels, Belgium
6 November 2015, Parma, Italy
Meeting with Italian Minister of Education, Universities and Research, Mrs Stefania Giannini
5 November 2015, Roma, Italy
Participation at the conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Portuguese Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE)
2-3 November 2015, Oporto, Portugal
22-23 October 2015 EUROFOUND, Dublin, Ireland
21 October 2015 Grange, Ireland
20 October 2015 Dublin, Ireland
15 October 2015 EXPO Milan, Italy
14-15-16 October 2015 EXPO Milan, Italy
13 October 2015 EXPO Milan, Italy
12 October 2015 Parma
Participation at the 1st Risk Assessment conference organised by the Croatian food safety agency (HAH) at the occasion of its 10th anniversary
5-6 October 2015 Osijek, Croatia
24-25 September 2015 Parma
23 September 2015 EXPO Milan
23 September 2015 EXPO Milan
21-22 September 2015 Cyprus
18 September 2015 Parma
8 September 2015 Parma
23 June 2015 Brussels
23 June 2015 European Parliament, Brussels
Chairing the meeting of EFSA ‘s Advisory Forum hosted by Latvian authorities
11-12 June 2015 Riga, Latvia
10 June 2015 Tallinn, Estonia
9 June 2015 Vilnius, Lithuania
3 June 2015 EFSA's premises, Parma
27-28 May 2015, Brussels
27 May 2015 European Parliament, Brussels
26 May 2015 EFSA's premises, Parma
8 May 2015 EFSA, Parma
7 May 2015 EFSA, Parma
4-5 May 2015 Madrid
30 April 2015 Parma
29 April 2015 EFSA, Parma
23 April 2015 Berlin
21 April 2015 EFSA, Parma
17 April 2015 EFSA, Parma
31 March 2015 London
30 March 2015 London
30 March 2015 London
30 March 2015 London
25 March 2015 Brussels
24 March 2015 Paris
24 March 2015 Paris
26 February 2015 Brussels
26 February 2015 Brussels
25 February 2015 Brussels
13 February 2015 EFSA, Parma
27 January 2015 EFSA, Parma
27 January 2015 EFSA, Parma
16 January 2015 Berlin
16 January 2015 Berlin
15-17 January 2015 Berlin
15 January 2015 Berlin
4 December 2014 Brussels
3-4 December 2014 Brussels
3-4 December 2014 Brussels
3-4 December 2014 Brussels
3-4 December 2014 Brussels
3-4 December 2014 Brussels
3 December 2014 Brussels
31 October 2014 Berlin
30 October 2014 Berlin
30 October 2014 Berlin
30 October 2014 Berlin
29 October 2014 Paris
29 October 2014 Paris
28 October 2014 Paris
28 October 2014 Paris
28 October 2014 Paris
2 October 2014 Brussels
2 October 2014 Brussels
2 October 2014 Brussels
2 October 2014 Brussels
2 October 2014 Brussels
1 October 2014 Brussels
1 October 2014 Brussels