Published: 8 April 2026
The EU Library gathers guidance documents related to food safety and produced by EU national competent organisations and risk assessors.
The EU Library includes entries collected by members of EFSA’s Advisory Forum with the support of the national Focal Points. It will be updated at least annually to ensure the inclusion of any new guidance and updates of existing ones.
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Food Domain: Biological Hazards; Contaminants; Food Contact…
Abstract/Summary:The document provides a comprehensive framework for assessing health risks from environmental chemical and microbiological exposures. It follows international standards, including EFSA, WHO, and Codex Alimentarius methodologies. Risk assessment steps include hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. It covers both microbiological (e.g., pathogens in food and water) and toxicological (e.g., heavy metals, pesticides) risks. Special topics include endocrine disruptors, nanomaterials, genotoxicity, and non-testing methods like QSAR and TTC. Practical examples include risk assessments for lead and atrazine in drinking water, PAHs in food, and nickel from cookware. The document emphasizes the importance of data quality, transparency, and multidisciplinary collaboration. It provides tools and models for predictive microbiology and chemical exposure estimation. Regulatory frameworks from the EU and international bodies are integrated throughout the guidelines. The aim is to standardize national approaches, improve assessment quality, and support public health protection.