Press Release: European Food Safety Authority: Prodi and Byrne welcome constructive EP position : Final agreement very close

Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, welcomed on 11 December 2001as 'highly constructive' the position adopted by the European Parliament's Plenary on the Regulation setting up a European Food Authority and laying down the principles for EU food law. The EP position in second reading marks very significant progress towards final approval by the Council. The EP position should pave the way for a rapid adoption of the Regulation and the start of operations of the Authority in the first half of 2002 in line with conclusions of the Nice European Council. The EP's idea to change the name of the Authority to “European Food Safety Authority” (EFSA) also got the Commission's support. In a separate resolution adopted today the European Parliament set out criteria for selecting a seat for the Authority, on which the Council is expected to decide shortly.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/food/fs/efa/index_en.html http://ec.europa.eu/comm/food/fs/efa/index_en.html

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/press/press135_en.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/press/press135_en.pdf

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