Skip to main content

Biological Hazards

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

Current Panel Members, 2018-2024

Chair: Koutsoumanis, Konstantinos Panagiotis
Vice-Chair: Allende, Ana; Herman, Lieve Maria
Members: Alvarez-Ordóñez, Avelino; Bolton, Declan Joseph; Bover-Cid, Sara; Chemaly, Marianne; Davies, Robert (until October 2022); De Cesare, Alessandra; Hilbert, Friederike; Lindqvist, Roland; Nauta, Maarten; Nonno, Romolo (as of January 2023); Peixe, Luisa; Ru, Giuseppe; Simmons, Marion; Skandamis, Panagiotis; Suffredini, Elisabetta

Declarations of Interests: download (last updated: 8/11/2022)

Previous Panel Members

2015-2018

Chair: Antonia Ricci
Vice-Chair: Konstantinos Panagiotis Koutsoumanis; Birgit Nørrung
Members:  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

Chair: John Sofos, from July 2012 to March 2014; John Griffin, from March 2014 
Vice-Chair:  John Griffin, from July 2012 to March 2014; Paul Cook, from March 2014; Arie Havelaar
Members: 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

Chair: John D. Collins, from June 2009 to Jan 2011 - (Prof. Collins died on 25 April 2012); Birgit Norrung, from March 2011 to June 2012
Vice-Chair: 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
Members: 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.

Australian microbiological monitoring programme (EFSA-Q-2023-00058)

Available soon

BIOHAZ WG on applications for alternative methods of use or disposal of animal by-products or derived products

Meetings: minutes last updated:

Methods 2-5 and 7 for pig PAP

Meetings: minutes last updated:

Monitoring of chronic wasting disease (CWD)

Meetings: minutes last updated:

Parasites in fishery products (EFSA-Q-2023-00090)

Available soon

Persistence of microbiological hazards (EFSA-Q-2022-00217)

Meetings: minutes last updated:

Scrapie CZ (EFSA-Q-2023-00088)

Available soon

The fourth Joint Interagency Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance Analysis (JIACRA) (EFSA-Q-2022-00101)

Meetings: minutes last updated:

Vibrio in seafood (EFSA-Q-2022-00826)

Meetings: minutes last updated:

Water in post-harvest processing ffFVHs (EGSA-Q-2021-00374)

Meetings: minutes last updated:

WG on the update of the list of QPS recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA (2020-22)

Meetings: minutes last updated:

Closed working groups

ABPs - colostrum treatment by microfiltration

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Alternative method ECN tunnel composting (Q-2019-00583)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Alternative method for production of biodiesel from processed fats derived from category 1, 2 and 3 animal by products (EFSA-Q-2019-00432)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

AMR and GP feed residues (EFSA-Q-2019-00221)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

AMR Milk Feed calves (EFSA-Q-2015-00611)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Analysis of the baseline survey on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Analysis of the baseline survey on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods: Subgroup on predictive models for Listeria growth

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Analytical methods for biological agents

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Application for a revision of the annual monitoring programme for BSE from Norway

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Application for new alternative biodiesel process for rendered fat of Cat 1 (EFSA-Q-2017-00136)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Assessment of ABPs

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Atypical Scrapie Surveillance (EFSA-Q-2020-00662)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Bioreduction

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

BSE - Croatia

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

BSE cases born after the total feed ban (EFSA-Q-2016-00350)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

BSE risk in bovine intestine and mesentery

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Carbapenem resistance in food animal ecosystems

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Chronic Wasting Disease - CWD - (EFSA-Q-2016-00387; EFSA-Q-2016-00411)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Clarification on the scientific opinion on the public health risks related to the maintenance of the cold chain during storage and transport of meat

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Date Marking (EFSA-Q-2019-00438-439)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Delayed meat inspection (EFSA-Q-2019-00124)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Development of risk ranking tool

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Dyes in aquaculture

Available soon

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of cattle

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of farmed game

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of poultry

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of poultry: Subgroup on case studies

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of poultry: Subgroup on ESBL

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of small ruminants

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of small ruminants: Subgroup on Mycobacteria

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Epidemiological indicators for meat inspection of solipeds

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

European baseline survey of norovirus in oysters

Available soon

European Union Summary Report on TSE

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Evaluation of processing method for ABP Cat. 3 (EFSA-Q-2017-00619)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Evaluation of the NExBTL process as an alternative method for treatment of rendered animal fat (NESTE OIL)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Fish storage

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Food-borne outbreaks reporting specifications

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Genetic resistance to scrapie in Cyprus

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Genetic resistance to TSEs in goats (EFSA-Q-2016-00268)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Growth of spoilage bacteria during storage and transport of meat

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Growth of spoilage bacteria during storage and transport of meat (EFSA-Q-2015-00163)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

HACCP (EFSA-Q-2015-00593)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Harmonised monitoring of AMR

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Harmonised monitoring of MRSA

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Hatchery waste

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Hazard analysis approaches for certain small retail establishments and food donations (HACCP)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Heat treatment of bivalve molluscs

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

High pressure processing of food (EFSA-Q-2020-00380)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Indicators AMR & AM use (EFSA-Q-2016-00638)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

JIACRA II

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Joint Inter-agency Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance Analysis (JIACRA) III (EFSA-Q-2018-00135)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready-to-eat foods (EFSA-Q-2015-00597)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Listeria monocytogenes in frozen fruit, vegetables and herbs (EFSA-Q-2018-01006)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Listex P100 treatment of ready to eat foods

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Meat inspection: bovines

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Meat inspection: small ruminants

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Meat Inspection: solipeds

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Mechanically separated meat

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Microbiological Safety of aged meat (EFSA-Q-2020-00527)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Molecular typing

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Molecular typing methods of food-borne pathogens

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

MRSA baseline survey (EFSA-Q-2022-00213)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Negligible risk classical scrapie

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

NGS for risk assessment of foodborne microorganisms

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Organic fertilisers endpoint (EFSA-Q-2020-00401)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Proposed EU minimum quality requirements for water reuse in agricultural irrigation and aquifer recharge

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Public health hazards to be covered by inspection of meat: farmed game

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Public health risks associated with food-borne parasites

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Public health risks associated with Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) as a food-borne pathogen (EFSA-Q-2016-00315)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Public health risks Bacillus in foodstuffs

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Public health risks Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Public health risks of table eggs due to deterioration and development of pathogens

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

QPS 2012 update

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Raw milk

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Reduction of the need to use antimicrobials

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Request for scientific and technical assistance on the baseline survey of Norovirus in oysters - 2018

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Request for scientific and technical assistance on the baseline survey of Norovirus in oysters 2015-16

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Requirements for development of microbiological criteria (EFSA-Q-2016-00227)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Risk of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) via in embryo transfer in sheep

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Risk of transmission of Ebola Virus (EBOV) via the food chain

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Risk of transmission of EBOV via the food chain - part 2

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Risk posed by pathogens in food of non-animal origin

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Ruminant collagen and gelatine (EFSA-Q-2019-00436)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Safety and efficacy of peroxyacetic acid for reduction of pathogens on poultry

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Salmonella controls in poultry flocks (EFSA-Q-2017-00692)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Sample size BSE monitoring

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Scientific coordination group on meat inspection

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Scrapie situation in the EU after 10 years of monitoring and control in sheep and goats

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Stakeholders' technical hearing on meat inspection in bovines

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Stakeholders' technical hearing on meat inspection of farmed game

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

STEC pathogenicity and public health risk_Q-2018-00293

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Technical specifications on the harmonised monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic and indicator bacteria transmitted through food (EFSA-Q-2018-00051)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Technical support to collect and analyse whole genome sequencing (WGS) data in the joint ECDC-EFSA molecular typing database

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

The evaluation of the NExBTL process as an alternative method for treatment of rendered animal fat (Neste Oil)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

The risk posed by pathogens in foods of non-animal origin

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Tracing of food items in connection to the multinational Hepatitis A virus outbreak in Europe

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Transmission of AMR and zoonotic agents during animal transports (EFSA-Q-2021-00435)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Transport of meat

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Update of the list of QPS recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA (2017-19) (M-2016-0211)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Update of the list of Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Updated Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) of the BSE risk posed by Processed Animal Protein (PAP) (EFSA-Q-2017-00705)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Urgent request on Lm sampling and testing (EFSA-Q-2018-00347)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Verotoxinogenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) Austria

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

WG on ALP milk pasteurisation (EFSA-Q-2020-00331)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

WG on AMR environment (EFSA-Q-2019-00343)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

WG on an update of the scientific opinion on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids - (EFSA-Q-2018-00763)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

WG on the transport/storage of fresh fishery products (EFSA-Q-2019-00053 and EFSA-Q-2019-00437)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

WG on Update on Campylobacter control options (EFSA-Q-2018-00676)

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Zoonotic potential scrapie

Meetings: minuteslast updated:

Related topic(s)