Highlights Newsletter

18 SEPTEMBER 2025

Nikolaus Kriz assumes role as EFSA’s new Executive Director

Nikolaus Kriz Executive Director
Nikolaus Kriz has officially assumed the role of Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), following his appointment by EFSA’s Management Board.
Read more

Latest news

#NoBirdFlu: clear communications for better biosecurity
bird flu
EFSA and the European Commission have joined forces to release a new communication toolkit designed to help farmers and anyone coming into contact with farms to safeguard poultry, other animals and people from avian influenza.
Keeping plant pests out of the EU
plant pest orange citricarpa

EFSA has completed the assessment of 47 quarantine pests as part of a major scientific analysis. This work will support the European Commission update of the EU list of priority pests, which are plant pests and pathogens regulated under EU law because of their potential to cause the most severe economic, environmental, or social impact.

Fluoride safety: updated intake levels for all ages
fluoride

EFSA has re-assessed the potential risks to consumers from fluoride in drinking water, food, fluoridated table salt, and ingested fluoridated dental care products. The scientific opinion updates the safe/tolerable intakes for all age groups based on the latest scientific studies.

Episode 32 – Data vs stereotypes: what Europeans eat
podcast september 2025
What do Europeans eat? On this episode, we’re talking food consumption data – how it is collected, what it shows and why it’s so important. Come explore with us why good data is crucial for shaping nutrition policies and keeping food safe.
Check out our latest podcast!
Episode 31 – Sizzling summers: BBQ safety served hot
podcast august 2025
Barbecues have been popular for centuries. Whether you prefer to cook over charcoal, woodchip, gas or an electric grill, food safety remains critical.
In this episode, we look at how the safety of our BBQ equipment is assessed and tips for staying safe when grilling.
Check out our latest podcast!
See all news

Don't miss

efsa whatsapp

EFSA's WhatsApp channel

Stay informed with the latest food safety updates, scientific assessments and more - delivered straight to your phone. Join us with just one click and be part of the conversation on safe and sustainable food.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn group for applicants

Need to file an application for a regulated product? Join our community to find information and support materials, updates on the developments of IT tools, alerts on new training material and events, frequently asked questions, etc. You’ll have the opportunity to interact with some 900 peer applicants, laboratories, and research representatives.

Social media

Linkedin post

MRL review

MRL

EFSA reviews on an ongoing basis the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for active substances used in plant protection products. To enable stakeholders to better prepare for and support the MRL review, EFSA maintains a regularly updated progress report on the review programme that was updated in July. Data collection was launched in July for the active substance plant oils/spearmint oil after the publication of the last progress report. Next update is scheduled for November.

Instructions on the review of existing MRLs are available on our dedicated pesticides topic page along with supporting tools and templates.

Publications

Publication

Surveillance of West Nile virus infections in humans and animals in Europe, monthly report

In 2025, and as of 3 September 2025, 9 countries in Europe reported 652 locally acquired1 human cases of WNV infection with known place of infection. The earliest and latest date of onset were respectively on 2 June 2025 and 31 August 2025.

Published 10 September 2025

Publication

Safety of rhamnogalacturonan‐I enriched carrot fibre (cRG‐I) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

The EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on rhamnogalacturonan‐I enriched carrot fibre (cRG‐I) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. 

Published 29 August 2025

See all publications

#EFSAGLOSSARY

Glossary

Specific migration limit (SML)

The maximum permitted amount of a substance expressed in mg of substance per kg of food (mg/kg) that can migrate from a food contact material (FCM) into food so as not to pose a health risk. Manufacturers need to ensure that FCMs will respect the SML when brought into contact with food, even under the worst foreseeable contact conditions.

See EFSA glossary

Events

Event

13th Plenary meeting of the Panel on Food Enzymes (FEZ)
7-8-9 October 2025 (Parma, Italy and online)
Registrations here

The Plenary will host a focused session on application procedure, support initiatives and confidentiality assessment.

Deadline for in-person participation: 23 September 2025, 23:59 (CEST);
Deadline for online participation: 3 October, 23:59 (CEST)

When registering, you can also submit the questions you would like to see addressed during the sessions.

See all events

Engage with us

Engage

Assessment Report on the active substance Pseudomonas alloputida B2017

Deadline: 18 October 2025 - Call for data

Engage

Welfare monitoring: data driven risk assessment in fast and slower growing broilers (BROWARD)

Deadline: 26 November 2025 – Art. 36