Webinar: Draft guidance on the characterisation and risk assessment of microorganisms used in the food chain

Background

Products containing microorganisms or prepared/obtained from/with microorganisms are used in the food chain, and they may be subject to a pre-market authorisation process requiring a risk assessment.

EFSA’s Scientific Committee has recently endorsed for public consultation a guidance document establishing the data requirements for the characterisation and risk assessment of microorganisms, genetically modified or not, used as such or to obtain/produce regulated products used in the food chain.

The guidance document may be applied to EFSA’s risk assessments of those products in any of the sectors for which applications are received.

Objectives of the meeting

The aim of the event was to boost the participation of stakeholders in the public consultation. The draft guidance was presented and explained during the event, and EFSA staff also answered questions from the audience.

Structure of the meeting

Following the welcoming of participants and introduction of the speakers, there was:

• A pre-recorded presentation of the guidance document, and
• A live Q&A session

Before the closing of the event, the main aspects of the updated guidance document and the most relevant discussion points were summarised. After the event, EFSA will issue a short report summarising the discussions, which will be published together with the presentations shared.

Contact

For more information, do not hesitate to contact the organising committee at webinars [at] efsa.europa.eu (webinars[at]efsa[dot]europa[dot]eu).