DG SANCO is the European Commission (EC) Directorate General for Health and Consumers, dedicated to making Europe's citizens healthier, safer and more confident. Its aim is to ensure food and consumer goods sold in the EU are safe, that the EU's internal market works for the benefit of consumers to protect and improve its citizens' health. In order to succeed in its mission, DG SANCO works with other EU institutions, national governments and agencies, consumer organisations, health interest groups, business groups, scientists, researchers and experts.

In 2000, the European Commission published a White Paper on Food Safety, which set out plans for a proactive new food safety policy. The paper recommended significant changes to the previous system, including 80 separate actions on legislative and enforcement issues within the overall EU food safety framework. The most important of these was the establishment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The legislation has also introduced a "Farm to Fork" programme for food safety, which brings primary production representatives (farmers and livestock raisers) into the food hygiene legislation formulation process for the first time.

Another major actor in servicing the European Commission for food safety is the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO). Its mission is to 1) promote effective control systems in the food safety and quality, veterinary and plant health sectors; 2) check on compliance with the requirements of EU food safety and quality, veterinary and plant health legislation within the European Union and in third countries exporting to the EU; and 3) contribute to the development of EU policy in the food safety and quality, veterinary and plant health sectors. The FVO achieves these objectives principally through inspections in EU Member States and in third countries exporting food products to the EU.

The EU integrated approach to food safety also aims to ensure a high level of animal health and welfare within the European Union. To this end, the European Commission has stepped up preventive measures in response to the threat of animal diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). All Member States have increased their avian influenza surveillance and the Commission is providing co-funding for the monitoring of wild birds and domestic poultry. Tighter bio-security measures to limit contact between wild birds and poultry, such as keeping poultry indoors, are in place in high-risk areas in order to prevent or limit the spread of the disease. Furthermore strict EU measures are laid out and that must be taken by a Member State in the event of an outbreak in its country. As import bans have also been placed on potentially risky poultry products and susceptible imports from third countries with H5N1 outbreaks, the EU has provided the funding for extending monitoring projects and training programmes to infected and at risk third countries.