Data collection

Introducing EFSA’s data collections

Data is one of the essential building blocks of EFSA’s scientific work. It is a prerequisite for informed risk assessment and risk management . Whether it is data from monitoring programmes on zoonotic organisms performed by EU Member States or analytical results from samples taken by food business operators to conduct their own safety checks, EFSA needs the results of these activities in its databases.

Data must be sent to EFSA in pre-defined formats to ensure that it is fit for purpose and comparable in the assessments carried out by EFSA. The information in this section is intended to improve understanding of the formats and to support newcomers submitting data to EFSA.

WHAT data are collected

List of data collection domains:

  1. Biological monitoring
    1. Zoonoses, food-borne outbreaks (FBO), whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
    2. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs)
    3. Avian Influenza (AI)
    4. African Swine Fever (ASF)
    5. One Health surveillance
  2. Chemical monitoring
    1. Pesticides
    2. VMPR
    3. Contaminants
    4. Additives
  3. Food consumption
  4. Food composition
  5. Veterinary medicinal product residues

WHO can send data to EFSA

EFSA receives data from a wide range of authorised data providers across Europe. These include:

  • European competent authorities, such as national food safety agencies and ministries,
  • Food business operators,
  • Industry stakeholders,
  • Academic institutions and research organisations,
  • Other stakeholders, such as NGOs or international organisations

EFSA Focal Points in each EU Member State nominate members of EFSA Networks. When collecting data is linked to a specific network, data providers are nominated by the respective network members.

For organisations not belonging to a network, such as food business operators, industry, research institutes, etc., you can request to become data providers by contacting EFSA at data.collection [at] efsa.europa.eu (data[dot]collection[at]efsa[dot]europa[dot]eu)

WHERE data collected are used

HOW to send data to EFSA: Getting started

  1. Prepare your data
    • Documents describing how to compile data and send it to EFSA, including examples, are known as Reporting guidance/manuals.
    • Data sent to EFSA must be organised according to structured Data models.
    • The complete list of terms that are to be used to report data to EFSA are contained in Catalogues. FoodEx2 is one of the main catalogues that classifies food, feed and animals. EFSA catalogues are available in the Catalogue browser.
    • EFSA has developed Reporting tools (mainly Excel based) for compiling the data in the required format.
  2. Submit your data
    • A person sending data from their organisation is known as a Data provider.
    • The EFSA platform to be used to send data to EFSA is the Data Collection Framework Watch this short video.
  3. Verify and accept your data