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 and that Europe helps protect and improve its citizens' health. Its activities touch the everyday lives of European citizens who expect high standards. 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 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). A comprehensive set of regulations has been developed including: 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs; 853/2004 which introduces specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin; and 854/2004 which introduces specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption. In order to reflect the continuous evolution and development of national food and feed control systems, the regulation 854/2004 has been amended by Regulation 882/2004, the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulation entering force. 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, implemented through an evaluation process, is threefold: 1) to 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 the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), caused by the virus strain H5N1 and Foot and Mouth Disease. 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. EU legislation on avian influenza has been reviewed taking into account lessons learned in recent years and includes new measures such as authorising preventive vaccination in very specific cases. EU import bans have also been placed on potentially risky poultry products and susceptible imports from third countries with H5N1 outbreaks.

Better Training for Safer Food
In order to establish a harmonised approach to food safety controls, the Regulation (EC) 882/2004 provides that the Commission can organise EU level training allowing the national control authorities to have a high level of competence and expertise, as well as to be capable of checking compliance with the legislation. Against this background, the Commission has launched the initiative "Better Training for Safer Food" with the aim of developing training activities in the EU and in particular in developing countries. The expansion of the world agricultural market is increasingly driven by developing countries. This fact highlights the importance for developing countries to establish effective mechanisms that will ensure that outbreaks of contagious diseases affecting humans and animals, as well as overuse or misuse of pesticides, are prevented and controlled as early and efficiently as possible. The objectives of the programme are 1) to foster a better understanding of the food standards and import procedures required by the EU, and 2) to help third countries, especially developing countries, to meet these requirements. The benefits of providing such training to third country officials are numerous. It will help remove some of the obstacles that third country exporters currently encounter due to insufficient knowledge of EU rules and regulation, and thus allow them to ensure that their products reach the EU market. Better compliance will also result in the reduction of unfair competition for these countries and will lead to safer food and greater protection for consumers. This is of key importance for many developing countries that rely heavily on food exports.

Concrete activities within the Better Training for Safer Food initiative began in 2006 with the implementation of seven training programmes. Of these, five were in the EU and two were in third countries. The 2006 training was comprised of 34 workshops and seven sustained training and assistance missions. The number of training programmes increased to twelve in 2007, of which eight were carried out in the EU and four in third countries. Training in 2007 took place through 62 training events and nine periods of sustained training and assistance. In these first two years of activity, approximately 4,500 participants directly benefited from the initiative's training programmes.

In 2008, trainings were composed of two three-day workshops along with 7 sustained training and technical assistance missions including an interactive website and E-learning modules. A total of 477 participants received direct training under the programme, with a further 2,362 unique users accessing the training through the E-learning portal on the project website. Between 2010-2011 activity levels will increase to include four three-day workshops and 13 sustained training and technical assistance missions in 5 different regions. It will look to increase the number of E-learning modules and to expand the audience of the website.