The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have today signed a memorandum of understanding setting out their commitment to fostering co-operation on areas of common interest. The new agreement builds on the existing collaboration between the agencies, setting out a number of activities to ensure that they make best use of their resources while avoiding duplication of effort. These include developing the scientific excellence of the two agencies and optimising risk assessment activities across the European Union (EU).
The memorandum states that the two agencies will:
- exchange information and co-operate to ensure early identification of potential sources of conflict in scientific opinions;
- exchange information and views on areas and scientific questions of mutual interest, such as the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals;
- mutually invite representatives to meetings of common interest;
- carry out joint projects;
- develop joint scientific guidance;
- co-operate in risk communication;
- extend co-operation in areas such as information technology, public procurement, legal matters, and policies and best practice on independence, handling conflicts of interest, openness and transparency.
EFSA is an EU agency based in Parma, Italy, which provides independent scientific advice and communication on existing and emerging risks relating to the safety of food and animal feed.
The EMA already has similar working arrangements in place with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.