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 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 and risk management The management of risks which have been identified by risk assessment. It includes the planning, implementation and evaluation of any resulting actions taken to protect consumers, animals and the environment. Whether it is data from monitoring programmes on zoonotic A term given to diseases and infections that can be transmitted between animals and humans 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. VMPR National Control Plans (NCP)

WHO can send data to EFSA

WHERE data collected are used

  • Annual European Union Summary Reports
  • National Reports
  • Exposure Concentration or amount of a particular substance that is taken in by an individual, population or ecosystem in a specific frequency over a certain amount of time and risk assessments
  • Rapid Outbreak Assessments

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