International updates

What are priority pests? The 20 pests on the list published by the European Commission in October 2019 are quarantine pests that have been identified as top priorities for EU Member States based on the severity of the economic, social and environmental problems they...

The European Commission has published a list of 20 “priority pests” that present the most serious economic, environmental and social threat to EU countries. The list includes Xylella fastidiosa, the Japanese beetle, the Asian long-horned beetle, citrus greening and...

EFSA is launching a public consultation on the risks to public health related to the presence of aflatoxins in food. Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by two species of Aspergillus, a fungus found especially in areas with hot and humid climates. Aflatoxins are known...

EFSA is carrying out a second stakeholder consultation in support of the review of its guidance on pesticides and bees. The dedicated stakeholder consultation group has been asked to comment on the protocol that EFSA will use to collect and evaluate data on bee...

EFSA’s monthly round-up of plant health coverage in the media is now available on the EFSA Journal platform. The newsletter gathers together published articles and updates on plant pests that have been identified as potential threats to crops, forests and parks in the...

EFSA is carrying out a public consultation on its pilot assessments of the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food. Interested parties have until 15 November to submit comments on two assessments: one considers chronic effects on the thyroid...

At what age is it safe for infants to start eating pureed and finger foods in addition to breastmilk or formula? We have just completed a comprehensive evaluation of the scientific evidence on this topic, covering infant health, nutritional needs and development. The...

The publication this week of dietary reference values (DRVs) for sodium and chloride marks the end of ten years of work by EFSA’s nutrition scientists. It started in 2009 after the European Commission asked EFSA to update values last set in the 1990s for...

EFSA is seeking feedback from interested parties on its scientific opinion about the risks to human and animal health related to the presence of chlorinated paraffins in food and feed. Chlorinated paraffins have been produced since the 1930s for a variety of purposes...