Many factors inside and outside the food production system(s) could directly and/or indirectly drive the emergence of important food safety hazards, risks and issues. It is important to identify these events at an early stage of the system or preferably prevent their occurrence. To improve food control systems at any level, the food control paradigm has shifted from reactionary to preventative (predictive) approaches. Effective monitoring of important drivers of change that could contribute to the emergence of important hazards or issues is necessary at the global, regional, and/or country-level. Traditionally, various surveillance approaches and tools are used to identify and assess potential hazards, risks and issues and to provide recommendations for potential actions. While these traditional approaches are reasonably effective...

This technical report is an abridged version of the full report that documents the results of the project - Structured Review and Expert Opinions on Early Warning and Rapid Alert Systems Applicable to Food Safety' carried out by the Center for Coastal Health (CCH) in collaboration with the EMPRES Food Safety Unit. The broad review question for the project was as follows: What is the current state of knowledge on EWRA (early warning and rapid alert) systems in terms of networks, programs and initiatives, databases, and data sources for identifying, notifying and sharing information on food safety events?

This volume of FAO JECFA Monographs contains specifications of identity and purity prepared at the 79th meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), held in Geneva on 17 - 26 June 2014. The specifications monographs are one of the outputs of JECFA's risk assessment of food additives, and should be read in conjunction with the safety evaluation, reference to which is made in the section at the head of each specifications monograph. Further information on the meeting discussions can be found in the summary report of the meeting and in the full report which will be published in the WHO Technical Report series. Toxicological monographs of the substances considered at the meeting will be published in...

This INFOSAN Activity Report provides an overview of the major events, activities and information products relating to INFOSAN during 2013. The report highlights some of the achievements from the past year, as well as challenges to overcome and areas for improvement.

A meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 17 to 26 June 2014. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate certain food additives (including flavouring agents).

A meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5 to 14 November 2013. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate residues of certain veterinary drugs in food. The report of the meeting will be printed in the WHO Technical Report Series. Its presentation will be similar to that of previous reports, namely, general considerations, comments on specific substances and recommendations. The report will include an annex (similar to Annex 1 in this summary) summarizing the conclusions reached by the Committee relating to ADIs, dietary exposure and MRLs.