EU Food Safety Project: Steering Committee Reviews Progress and Sets Priorities for The Next Implementation Period
The 20th Steering Committee Meeting of the EU Food Safety Project brought together project partners and relevant stakeholders to review progress achieved during the latest reporting period and agree on priorities for the months ahead.
The meeting highlighted continued progress across food safety, animal disease preparedness and cross-cutting activities. Participants reviewed the successful delivery of specialised training programmes, technical support to food business operators, monitoring and sampling activities, support to the dairy sector, and measures aimed at strengthening preparedness for animal diseases. The project's continued adaptability in responding to emerging challenges while maintaining implementation of its approved work plan was also acknowledged.
Discussions focused on several strategic priorities, including the pilot categorisation of milk-producing farms, the identification of farms with potential to participate in the Halloumi/Hellim PDO scheme, and the dissemination of practical guidance on veterinary medicinal products to farmers and beekeepers. Participants also reviewed ongoing surveillance and preparedness activities related to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), underlining the importance of continued coordination, timely information sharing, and sustained support for disease prevention.
The Steering Committee further discussed the continued support of a harmonised approach to food safety checks and multiannual plans for food of non-animal origin, future laboratory capacity strengthening, and preparations for upcoming checks.
Looking ahead, the project will continue to focus on capacity building, supporting the dairy sector and reinforcing preparedness for animal disease emergencies through close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining strong collaboration and advancing resilient, effective, and sustainable food safety and animal health systems.
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