The Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) provides scientific advice on biological hazards in relation to food safety and food-borne diseases. This covers animal diseases transmissible to humans; transmissible spongiform encephalopathies; food microbiology; food hygiene and associated waste management issues.
BIOHAZ Panel Members are scientists from across Europe with expertise in:
- Epidemiology of food borne zoonoses (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc)
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Processing of animal by-products
- Food-borne viruses
- Meat inspection in all food-producing species
- Food hygiene and microbiology
- Microbiological criteria
- Biological risks ;associated with composite products, and with fresh produce;
- Decontamination of meat carcasses (antimicrobial treatments)
- Quantitative microbiological risk assessment
- TSEs (epidemiology, pathology, diagnostic, exposure assessment).
Panel Members
Mitglieder des BIOHAZ-Gremiums, 2018-2021
Vorsitzender: Koutsoumanis, Konstantinos Panagiotis
Stellvertretende Vorsitzende: Allende, Ana; Herman, Lieve Maria
Mitglied: Alvarez-Ordóñez, Avelino; Bolton, Declan Joseph; Bover-Cid, Sara; Chemaly, Marianne; Davies, Robert; De Cesare, Alessandra; Hilbert, Friederike; Lindqvist, Roland; Nauta, Maarten; Peixe, Luisa; Ru, Giuseppe; Simmons, Marion; Skandamis, Panagiotis; Suffredini, Elisabetta
Previous Panel Members
2015-2018
Vorsitzender: Antonia Ricci
Stellvertretende Vorsitzende: Konstantinos Panagiotis Koutsoumanis; Birgit Nørrung
Mitglied: Ana Allende; Declan Bolton; Marianne Chemaly; Robert Davies; Pablo Salvador Fernandez Escamez; Rosina Girones; Lieve Herman; Roland Lindqvist; Lucy Robertson; Giuseppe Ru; Moez Sanaa; Marion Simmons; Panagiotis Skandamis; Emma Snary; Niko Speybroeck; Benno Ter Kuile; John Threlfall; Helene Wahlström
2012-2015
Vorsitzender: John Sofos, from July 2012 to March 2014; John Griffin, from March 2014
Stellvertretende Vorsitzende: John Griffin, from July 2012 to March 2014; Paul Cook, from March 2014; Arie Havelaar
Mitglied: Olivier Andreoletti; Dorte Lau Baggesen; Declan Bolton; Patrick Butaye; Robert Davies; Pablo S. Fernández Escámez; Tine Hald; Kostas Koutsoumanis; Roland Lindqvist; James McLauchlin; Truls Nesbakken; Miguel Prieto Maradona; Antonia Ricci; Giuseppe Ru; Moez Sanaa; Marion Simmons; John Threlfall
2009-2012
Vorsitzender: John D. Collins, from June 2009 to Jan 2011 - (Prof. Collins died on 25 April 2012); Birgit Norrung, from March 2011 to June 2012
Stellvertretende Vorsitzende: Birgit Norrung, from June 2009 to January 2011; Herbert Budka, from March 2011 to June 2012 and from June 2009 to January 2011; John Sofos, from March 2011 to June 2012
Mitglied: Olivier Andreoletti; Sava Buncic; John Griffin; Tine Hald; Arie Havelaar; James Hope; Günter Klein; Kostas Koutsoumanis, from May 2011 to June 2012; Winy Messens, from June 2009 to July 2010; James McLauchlin; Christine Müller-Graf; Christophe Nguyen The; Luísa Peixe; Miguel Prieto Maradona; Antonia Ricci; John Threlfall; Ivar Vågsholm; Emmanuel Vanopdenbosch
The Declarations of Interests and CVs of previous Panel members are available upon interestmanagement [at] efsa.europa.eu (request).
Networks
BSE-TSE
Set up to strengthen the scientific cooperation on BSE-TSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies) issues, reduce the duplication of activities and hence avoid divergence of opinion.
Microbiological risk assessment
Established to strengthen the scientific cooperation on microbiological risk assessment, anticipate and reduce the duplication of activities and hence avoid divergence of opinion.
Working groups
We are having a technical issue with the publication of DOIs and are working to resolve it. If you are looking for a specific DOI and cannot find it on the system please contact interestmanagement [at] efsa.europa.eu.
| Name | Meetings, agendas and minutes (last updated) |
|---|---|
| BIOHAZ WG on applications for alternative methods of use or disposal of animal by-products or derived products | |
| High pressure processing of food (EFSA-Q-2020-00380) | |
| Microbiological Safety of aged meat (EFSA-Q-2020-00527) | |
| Organic fertilisers endpoint (EFSA-Q-2020-00401) | |
| Transmission of AMR and zoonotic agents during animal transports (EFSA-Q-2021-00435) | |
| Water in post-harvest processing ffFVHs (EGSA-Q-2021-00374) | |
| WG on the update of the list of QPS recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA (2020-22) |
Closed working groups
| Name | Minutes (last update) |
|---|---|
| ABPs - colostrum treatment by microfiltration | |
| Alternative method ECN tunnel composting (Q-2019-00583) | |
| Alternative method for production of biodiesel from processed fats derived from category 1, 2 and 3 animal byproducts (EFSA-Q-2019-00432) | |
| AMR and GP feed residues (EFSA-Q-2019-00221) | |
| AMR Milk Feed calves (EFSA-Q-2015-00611) | |
| Analysis of the baseline survey on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods | |
| Analysis of the baseline survey on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods: Subgroup on predictive models for Listeria growth | |
| Analytical methods for biological agents | |
| Application for a revision of the annual monitoring programme for BSE from Norway | |
| Application for new alternative biodiesel process for rendered fat of Cat 1 (EFSA-Q-2017-00136) | |
| Assessment of ABPs | |
| Atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) | |
| Atypical Scrapie Surveillance (EFSA-Q-2020-00662) | |
| Bioreduction | |
| BSE - Croatia | |
| BSE cases born after the total feed ban (EFSA-Q-2016-00350) | |
| BSE risk in bovine intestine and mesentery | |
| Carbapenem resistance in food animal ecosystems | |
| Chronic Wasting Disease - CWD - (EFSA-Q-2016-00387; EFSA-Q-2016-00411) | |
| Clarification on the scientific opinion on the public health risks related to the maintenance of the cold chain during storage and transport of meat | |
| Date Marking (EFSA-Q-2019-00438-439) | |
| Delayed meat inspection (EFSA-Q-2019-00124) | |
| Development of risk ranking tool | |
| Dyes in aquaculture | Available soon |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of cattle | |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of farmed game | |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of poultry | |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of poultry: Subgroup on case studies | |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of poultry: Subgroup on ESBL | |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of small ruminants | |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of small ruminants: Subgroup on Mycobacteria | |
| Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of solipeds | |
| European baseline survey of norovirus in oysters | Available soon |
| European Union Summary Report on TSE | |
| Evaluation of processing method for ABP Cat. 3 (EFSA-Q-2017-00619) | |
| Evaluation of the NExBTL process as an alternative method for treatment of rendered animal fat (NESTE OIL) | |
| Fish storage | |
| Food-borne outbreaks reporting specifications | |
| Genetic resistance to scrapie in Cyprus | |
| Genetic resistance to TSEs in goats (EFSA-Q-2016-00268) | |
| Growth of spoilage bacteria during storage and transport of meat | |
| Growth of spoilage bacteria during storage and transport of meat (EFSA-Q-2015-00163) | |
| HACCP (EFSA-Q-2015-00593) | |
| Harmonised monitoring of AMR | |
| Harmonised monitoring of MRSA | |
| Hatchery waste | |
| Hazard analysis approaches for certain small retail establishments and food donations (HACCP) | |
| Heat treatment of bivalve molluscs | |
| Indicators AMR & AM use (EFSA-Q-2016-00638) | |
| JIACRA II | |
| Joint Inter-agency Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance Analysis (JIACRA) III (EFSA-Q-2018-00135) | |
| Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready-to-eat foods (EFSA-Q-2015-00597) | |
| Listeria monocytogenes in frozen fruit, vegetables and herbs (EFSA-Q-2018-01006) | |
| Listex P100 treatment of ready to eat foods | |
| Meat inspection: bovines | |
| Meat inspection: small ruminants | |
| Meat Inspection: solipeds | |
| Mechanically separated meat | |
| Molecular typing | |
| Molecular typing methods of food-borne pathogens | |
| Negligible risk classical scrapie | |
| NGS for risk assessment of foodborne microorganisms | |
| Proposed EU minimum quality requirements for water reuse in agricultural irrigation and aquifer recharge | |
| Public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat: farmed game | |
| Public health risks associated with food-borne parasites | |
| Public health risks associated with Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) as a food-borne pathogen (EFSA-Q-2016-00315) | |
| Public health risks Bacillus in foodstuffs | |
| Public health risks Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC) | |
| Public health risks of table eggs due to deterioration and development of pathogens | |
| QPS 2012 update | |
| Raw milk | |
| Reduction of the need to use antimicrobials | |
| Request for scientific and technical assistance on the baseline survey of Norovirus in oysters - 2018 | |
| Request for scientific and technical assistance on the baseline survey of Norovirus in oysters 2015-16 | |
| Requirements for development of microbiological criteria (EFSA-Q-2016-00227) | |
| Risk of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) via in embryo transfer in sheep | |
| Risk of transmission of Ebola Virus (EBOV) via the food chain | |
| Risk of transmission of EBOV via the food chain - part 2 | |
| Risk posed by pathogens in food of non-animal origin | |
| Ruminant collagen and gelatine (EFSA-Q-2019-00436) | |
| Safety and efficacy of peroxyacetic acid for reduction of pathogens on poultry | |
| Salmonella controls in poultry flocks (EFSA-Q-2017-00692) | |
| Sample size BSE monitoring | |
| Scientific coordination group on meat inspection | |
| Scrapie situation in the EU after 10 years of monitoring and control in sheep and goats | |
| Stakehoders' technical hearing on meat inspection in bovines | |
| Stakehoders' technical hearing on meat inspection of farmed game | |
| STEC pathogenicity and public health risk_Q-2018-00293 | |
| Technical specifications on the harmonised monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic and indicator bacteria transmitted through food (EFSA-Q-2018-00051) | |
| Technical support to collect and analyse whole genome sequencing (WGS) data in the joint ECDC-EFSA molecular typing database | |
| The evaluation of the NExBTL process as an alternative method for treatment of rendered animal fat (Neste Oil) | |
| The risk posed by pathogens in foods of non-animal origin | |
| Tracing of food items in connection to the multinational Hepatitis A virus outbreak in Europe | |
| Transport of meat | |
| Update of the list of QPS recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA (2017-19) (M-2016-0211) | |
| Update of the list of Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA | |
| Updated Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) of the BSE risk posed by Processed Animal Protein (PAP) (EFSA-Q-2017-00705) | |
| Urgent request on Lm sampling and testing (EFSA-Q-2018-00347) | |
| Verotoxinogenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) Austria | |
| WG on ALP milk pasteurisation (EFSA-Q-2020-00331) | |
| WG on AMR environment (EFSA-Q-2019-00343) | |
| WG on an update of the scientific opinion on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids - (EFSA-Q-2018-00763) | |
| WG on the transport/storage of fresh fishery products (EFSA-Q-2019-00053 and EFSA-Q-2019-00437) | |
| WG on Update on Campylobacter control options (EFSA-Q-2018-00676) | |
| Zoonotic potential scrapie |