Background

World Food Safety Day: EU Agri-food chain’s commitment to safer food for better health

Published: 07/06/2022

World Food Safety Day is an important way to raise awareness on the need to prevent, detect and
manage foodborne risks. To mark the fourth World Safety Day today, CELCAA, Copa-Cogeca,
EuroCommerce, FEFAC and FoodDrinkEurope want to reiterate their strong commitment to delivering
safe food to consumers in Europe and all around the globe. Food safety is essential to human health and
well-being, a crucial component to food security, a prerequisite for the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals and a truly cross-cutting area.

COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have shown us how important the EU Agri-food chain is and how
essential it is to minimise disruptions in the food supply chains, as consumers must have reliable access
to safe food. The provision of safe food is a responsibility carried by all partners in the food supply chain,
from farm to fork. Equally, safe feed is a prerequisite for safe food of animal origin, and an integral
component of global food safety systems.

Agri-food chain partners remain fully committed to consistent, day-in-day-out efforts to keep food safe.
Everyone involved in food production, processing, distribution and retail must identify, evaluate, and
control food safety hazards. A risk-based approach to food safety, continuous learning, promotion of a
food safety culture and a wide range of regulatory and self-regulatory measures ensure consumers have
access to safe products on the market.

Today’s food in the EU is safer, of higher-quality, and has a longer shelf-life than ever before. The safety
of food is affected by the health of animals, plants and the environment within which it is produced.
Adopting a holistic approach to food safety will deliver a better food safety system.

The Food Safety Platform members (CELCAA, Copa-Cogeca, EuroCommerce, FEFAC and FoodDrinkEurope) have also developed an infographic brochure showcasing their joint responsibility in delivering safe food from farm to fork, which can be downloaded here.