Engagement platforms

Last reviewed date:

11 March 2025

Stakeholders can engage with EFSA in many ways according to their interests and expertise. These interaction mechanisms are complemented by services and tools that ensure a timely access to information and an effective exchange with EFSA.

This catalogue provides an overview of EFSA’s engagement mechanisms, tools, resources and services, and of the context in which they are activated.

Stakeholders’ engagement mechanisms

Public consultations and calls for data

During the lifecycle of scientific mandates and applications on regulated products, EFSA regularly consults stakeholders to incorporate their input into its risks assessments. EFSA may also collect data from third parties to inform its scientific advice.

Public events

Public events such as colloquia and workshops ensure that EFSA taps into the expertise of the wider scientific community to jointly prepare for future risk assessment A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation challenges. Public events are also organised to promote the understanding of EFSA’s work (information sessions and webinars) and encourage dialogue on specific issues related to EFSA’s scientific mandates (technical meetings, e.g. during/after a public consultation).

Open plenary meetings of EFSA’s Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee

Every year, EFSA holds one public session of each of its Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee. Stakeholders may attend these meetings as observers.

Presentations at training and information sessions organised by industry associations

EFSA staff attend and give presentations at training and information sessions hosted by industry associations for their members.

This initiative is primarily aimed at organisations within EFSA’s registered stakeholder scheme but is also open to relevant parties outside the scheme when deemed appropriate. EFSA's presentations at these sessions focus on the guidance and resources available to help applicants prepare and submit their dossiers. These materials can be found in the dedicated section of EFSA’s website.

List of Attended Sessions

Thematic discussion groups

Thematic discussion groups act as “learning systems” to discuss and exchange information in specific areas, leveraging stakeholders’ knowledge in those domains. Discussion groups are primarily open to registered stakeholders, although EFSA may also invite non-registered organisations or individuals to participate, based on their competences, expertise, and experience, as appropriate. Such participation is in line with EFSA’s core values of openness and transparency.

The following groups are currently active:

Discussion Group on Aquaculture Environmental Risk Assessment (StaDG-ERAQUA): The Stakeholder DG on Aquaculture ERA Environmental risk assessment (ERA) is the process of assessing potential harm to the environment caused by a substance, activity or natural occurrence. This may include the introduction of GM plants, the use of pesticides, or the spread of plant pests is a platform for engagement and collaboration between EFSA and experts in the field to improve the exchange of information and dialogue in this area. The group is supporting EFSA’s ongoing work on ERA of feed additives for aquaculture, with a focus in marine sediments, allowing for exchanges on the scientific evidence, scientific studies, published outcomes of projects and peer discussions on the subject. The StaDG-ERAQUA enables EFSA to capitalise on stakeholders’ specialised knowledge and identify challenges and knowledge gaps in the field.

Please find all details about the scope, composition, roles and more in the Framework for Interaction document.

Evaluation Committee Report | Members | Meetings

Related topic: Emerging Risks

Discussion Group on Food Chemical Occurrence The fact or frequency of something (e.g. a disease or deficiency in a population) happening Data: EFSA is required to work in close cooperation with all organisations operating in the field of data collection. The Stakeholder Discussion Group on Food Chemical Occurrence Data discusses and exchanges information on the practical aspects and challenges regarding provision of occurrence data and usage data from stakeholders. The group’s focus is mainly on food additives and chemical contaminants in food.

Framework for interaction | Call for renewal of membership 2023 | Meetings | Evaluation Committee Report

Closed or inactive groups:

Pilot focus group on a Guidance Document on Allergenicity The ability to trigger an abnormal immune response that leads to an allergic reaction in a person in the area of regulated products (Framework of interaction | Members).
Group on E-Submission (Framework of interaction | Members).
Consultation group on Endocrine Disruptors (Members | Minutes of the selection meeting).
Group on EU Bee Partnership for Data Sharing: This discussion group was set up in 2018 to establish the terms of reference for the EU Bee Partnership as an outcome of the scientific symposium “Collecting and sharing data on bee health: towards a European Bee Partnership” organised by EFSA as part of European Bee and Pollination Week 2017. Participants agreed to work towards setting up the European Bee Partnership, a platform run by stakeholders for the benefit of stakeholders to ensure that honeybees, and eventually all pollinators, can thrive in Europe. Minutes of the selection meeting and list of Members | Meetings and news
Technical group on the Tools related to the application of the Transparency Regulation (TG TOOLS): EFSA has established the Technical Group on the Tools related to the application of the Transparency Regulation (TG TOOLS) as a forum for technical exchanges on the use of the tools with the purpose of enhancing the dialogue with the users and gathering feedback from users on suggestions for adjustments or simplification of the tools referenced in the Terms of Reference (ToR). Members | Terms of Reference (ToR) | Meetings
Consultation Group on Bee Guidance Revision: This group is supporting EFSA’s ongoing review of the guidance on risk assessment of pesticides and bees, which was requested by the European Commission. The group is being consulted at various stages of the review and providing input to the EFSA scientific working group charged with revising the document. Call for members | Minutes of the selection meeting | News Related topic: Pesticides and bees: guidance review

Engagement mechanisms dedicated to registered stakeholders

In addition to the above, registered stakeholders may also engage with EFSA through the following mechanisms. Two of these are standing bodies established by EFSA’s Management Board.

Stakeholder Forum

The Stakeholder Forum brings together the community of EFSA’s registered stakeholders once a year to discuss EFSA’s work plans and priorities. The themes and topics of each annual forum are suggested by registered stakeholders and by the priority areas identified by EFSA.

List of registered stakeholders | Meetings

Stakeholder Bureau

The Stakeholder Bureau’s role is to advise EFSA on stakeholder engagement and dialogue on issues in the Authority’s remit. It also helps to shape the agenda of the Stakeholder Forum. It is made up of seven representatives of EFSA’s stakeholder groups proposed by the stakeholders themselves to act in the interests of the category they represent.

Members | Meetings | Call for renewal of the Stakeholder Bureau Members 2023

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